...it is still the Leastern conference to me.

There is no way an Eastern conference team takes the Championship this year anyway.  A lot can happen over the season, but really, the odds are still like 70/30 in Western conference favor

Hrm...The Suns and Spurs are still clearly the cream of the NBA crop.

On the other hand, the Jazz and Nuggets and Rockets are no longer head and shoulders above the Eastern Contenders.

Throwing out Cleveland as a fluke team bound for a fall:

Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, and Boston are probably roughly on par with Utah/Houston/Denver.

Charlotte, Washington, Jersey, Atlanta, are probably roughly equal to the Warriors, New Orleans, Memphis, or a healthy Laker team (if such a thing exists).

It's the Bottom of the West that's taken a step back:

• Kings are a mess
  
• Seattle, Minnesota, Portland have all gone into rebuild mode
  
• The Clippers were hit by the Livingston and Brand injuries.

The Bottom of the East is actually better than the Bottom of the West:

• Milwaulkee should be better with more health than last year
  
• Orlando will be better in the short term with Rashard (after Nelson gets his extension, they'll be capped outta their minds and they'll plateau).
  
• The Sixers can't shoot, but they can run and jump
  
• The Pacers...bless the Pacers.

San Antonio, Houston, Phoenix and Dallas are all in the West.  In fact, this season's eventual playoff teams from the West should be far superior to the playoff teams from the East.  However, the 9-15 teams from the East should be better than the lottery teams from the West.  But the Western lower division teams includes Portland and Seattle, who should improve quickly and mightily.

No, the imbalance of power is still pretty substantial between the two conferences.

no

1.Chicago (56 wins)
They have the most talent and they are the youngest of the top Eastern teams. Their weakest link, PF, might end up being very strong with Tyrus Thomas, Joaquin Noah and Joe Smith.  Last season's point differential was that of a 57 win team, yet they should improve this season.

2. Boston (50 Wins)
I rate them just above Cleveland because of the Varjeao, Pavlovich situation.  I like the Celtics better in the playoffs - when the big three can play more minutes - assuming they are not broken down by then.

3. Cleveland (50 Wins)
LeBron should improve.  Just that alone makes them a threat to win the East.  They're a top defensive team but a poor offensive team (other than LeBron).  Whenever they turn their offense around, they can win it all.

4. Detroit (48 wins)
I have them basically tied with Orlando, but experience should help them down the stretch.  Their core group is declining, while their bench is improving.

5. Orlando (48 wins)
Terrible contract for Lewis, but he helps spread the floor for Dwight Howard.  I don't think they'll miss the lethargic Milicic.  They'll go small at forward with Lewis and Turkalo.  J. Nelson should improve and they're getting a much better coach in Stan Van Gundy.

6. Miami (46 wins)
The Ricky Davis trade brings them up from .500.  Clearly their season rests on how much and how well Shaq and Wade play.

7. Toronto (40 wins)
I think they over-performed last season.  Let's see if they can prove me wrong.  

8. NY Knicks (39 wins)
There's a sucker born every minute and here's one who says the Knicks can make the playoffs.  I add up their talent and I get a lot more than 39 wins.  However, despite factoring in the Isiah factor, I'm still probably overshooting their wins be ten.

9. Charlotte (39 wins)
They're in the playoff mix.  The Sean May injury hurt them, the Adam Morrison injury helped them.

10.  New Jersey (38 wins)
They're fading.  Keeping their declining big three together is not paying off.

11. Washington (37 wins)
THEIR big three (how many of these, are there?) couldn't have played better last season, yet they were still a .500 team.  Law of diminishing returns at work here.

12. Atlanta (31 wins)
Love their talent, not their coach.  They either need a Larry Brown to walk in, or trade for a veteran they can rally around.  Until then, I see them playing below their talent level.

13.  Philadelphia (30 wins)
They probably overachieved last season, although I'm not sure.  I liked their draft.

14.  Milwaukee (30 wins)
A new coach with no experience, and a team that desperately needs to learn how to play defense, leads me to believe that they're not going anywhere.

15.  Indiana (25 wins)
Last place couldn't happen to a more swell bunch of guys.

1. Detroit - They should be good enough for 50+ wins with their consistent veterans.
   
2. Boston - The addition of two all-stars obviously helps them significantly - they have just got to hope they stay healthy. They may not win a great number of games but they have a good chance of making the Eastern Conference Finals at least.
   
3. Chicago - I like this team. Luol Deng is becoming one of the best young forwards in the NBA and will hopefully be an All-Star this year. Gordon and Hinrich will provide scoring from the guard spots and Wallace will defend the basket with Nocioni, Smith, Sefolosha and Noah as a decent supporting cast.
   
4. Cleveland - Lebron will get better and they will hope that Varejao and Pavlovic re-sign to help them carry on where they left off last year.
   
5. Toronto - I don't think last year was a fluke; they can still be a playoff team with Bosh, one of the best big men in the East alongside Bargnani, Calderon, Garbajosa, Ford, Kapono...
   
6. Miami - Although Shaq and Wade won't play 82 games, the Heat should reach the playoffs and will be helped by the signing of Ricky Davis.
   
7. Orlando - With Van Gundy as coach and Lewis playing alongside Howard; they should be a playoff team, especially with the soon-to-be all-star Adonal Foyle.
   

8/9. New Jersey/Washington - I can't decide between the two. Both teams have a big three - NJ need their ageing three of Kidd, Carter and RJ to be supported well by the likes of Nachbar and cope with the departure of Mikki Moore. Washington simply need Arenas, Jamison and Butler to stay healthy.

10. Charlotte - The Bobcats should be sniffing around the playoffs with Wallace, J-Rich and Okafor but I think May's injury will hurt them quite a lot.
    
11. Atlanta - I still think the Hawks, although a decent team, won't be consistent enough to reach the postseason. Young players like Smith, Childress, Horford and Law alongside Joe Johnson should start being a solid team after this year.
    
12. New York - Although Randolph is a good addition, I don't think him and Curry can play well together and their weak backcourt will hinder them. I like Lee and Balkman as young players but they need to get someone like Artest to play defense for them and they should fall short in the improved East
    
13. Philadelphia - I don't think the Sixers are good enough to get back into the playoffs yet and should get a high lottery pick.
    
14. Milwaukee - Even if the Bucks stay healthy, Redd will have a hard time leading his team to a playoff push; I don't think Yi will make an impact yet.
    
15. Indiana - JO should try and get out of Indiana as they are in rebuilding mode and MurphLeavy's record of no playoff appearences won't change this year.

will be #3 in the east in the reg season, and #1 in the east during the playoffs.  The teams with the best reg season records aren't always the best in the end, case in point - last year's Dallas "I CAN'T BELIEVE ITS NOT BUTTER" Mavericks.