I don’t think Orlando is as good as advertised because I don’t believe that Dwight Howard has reached the point where he can beat teams by himself. His offensive repertoire hasn’t expanded to the point that teams have to double team him in order to win. I think a good defensive team like the Celtics or Cavaliers can give him different looks throughout the game, stay home on Orlando’s three-point shooters, and win. Orlando is too dependent upon the long-ball for my tastes.

Orlando is good defensively, but they aren’t that good.

I agree with you about Phoenix. But make no mistake, Phoenix would destroy Milwaukee or Philly in a 7-game series. I’d take the Suns over the Heat too.

LA isn’t going to roll through everyone in the West.

You said, “It’s really hard for me to think the West is any good when the Cavs are 15-2 against them and a lot of those games we have had 2 starters hurt.”

How many games did Cleveland win without both West and Z? Both Delonte and Z played in Denver.

Cleveland beat Houston with Z & Delonte.

Cleveland’s wins over New Orleans, Portland, and Utah were impressive. But it’s not as if Cleveland has been winning against the West and losing to the East. The Cavs beat the Celtics without Z too.

Orlando is definitely as good as advertised. How can you think they aren’t??

Howard is a monster, and when you start doubling teaming him, they light it up from everywhere. They play defense now too.

Atlanta will be a tough out in the playoffs, as will Miami.

Dallas and Phoenix are just TERRIBLE teams. New Orleans has been exposed, and Portland is a team that only wins at home. If you are the lakers, your first round opponent might be tougher than the Cavs/Magic/Orlando first round opponent. But there will be a 6 or 7 game series between 2 of those 3 elite teams in the East. LA should roll through everyone.

It’s really hard for me to think the West is any good when the Cavs are 15-2 against them and a lot of those games we have had 2 starters hurt. I mean, Cavs beat Denver by 20 in Denver, just got done beating Portland, Utah, and New Orleans without Z. I mean, the Cavs offense is at 60% right now and no one in the West except the Lakers can beat them.

When was the last time Orlando lost to a West team?

Do you really think the Lakers couldn’t take care of Dallas or Phoenix in a first round series? Utah is dangerous if healthy – which is a big if.

Yes, I still think the West is head and shoulders above the East.

Why has Miami shown they can beat anyone on any given night? Because they beat Orlando and Orlando beat LA twice? I don’t think Orlando is as good as advertised.

There are only six teams in the East playing above .500. There are nine teams in the West with a .500 or better win percentage.

You can make the argument that their records are inflated due to the bottom five teams in the West, but I’m not convinced that the bottom five teams in the West are that much worse than the bottom five teams in the East.

The path to the Finals is still infinitely more difficult in the West.

Let’s use Cleveland as an example.

Would Cleveland prefer to play Milwaukee or Dallas/Utah in the first round?

I know that a lot of analysts have Orlando ranked higher than San Antonio and New Orleans. But I’d take the Spurs and Hornets over the Magic in a 7 game series.

I really find it hard to believe that you can still think the West is a better conference – especially now that Miami is showing it can beat anyone on any night.