After the post Bulls era, the west has dominated all east teams and making a seed in the west is harder than find good parking in SF. But is the east slowly turning into the west. From all the early draft picks, West stars going to the east coast? Do you think by next season or even this season, the west will have trouble against the east?

Not yet. The east is getting better, they even have some teams that could win the champìonship, but the worst team in the west (excluding New Orleans) still would be a playoff team in the east. So no, the east is not taking over.

But this could change in a few years...

West is still much stronger but the East is getting better. True that the best teams in the East could win the championship

In the East now...

Shaquille O'Neal, Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Steve Francis, Rasheed Wallace, Larry Hughes, Quentin Richardson, Chris Webber, Antonio McDyess, Bobby Simmons, Joe Johnson, Jason Williams, Caron Butler...

They aren't stronger than the West. They're just reaming us of our talent. Who'd we get back for all these players? Lamar Odom, Baron Davis, and Tracy McGrady? Seems like a raw deal to me.

Notice that the players you mentioned who went to the East had their best seasons in the West and the players who went West, TMac, Odom and Baron are all still playing at their highest level

Eh, Joe Johnson is still to early to tell, JWilliams is still adjusting, and Gilbert is having career seasons in the East. I dunno if T-Mac is still playing his highest (or Lamar Odom).

The only real thing that has balanced the East/West power is Shaq. He is by far the most dominant presence in the game and whichever conference has a force like that gains a lot of ground in terms of power. I still think the West is better simply due to depth and talent of stars but the margin of difference is a lot closer since Shaq went over to the Heat.

Very, very, VERY true. Shaquille O'Neal is THAT damn good...

Shaq is a force but this season he hasn't been much and his stats are nothing like they were every other years in his career (except his last in Lakers). He is definately slowing down and the Heat need to win now or they won't with him. I give him 3 more effective seasons. Then he will seriously think about retiring

O'Neal's numbers dropped for two reasons: #1, more capable players (ie, Walker, Williams, Posey for scoring... Walker grabbing boards, ect) and, #2, the Heat are trying to limit Shaq's minutes so he can be more effective in the playoffs, instead of hobbling on a weak ankle the entire time.

Shaq's effectiveness hasn't dropped; he's being held back to preserve himself for the post season. But 3 blocks a game, along with 8 or 9 boards, and over 16 points is nothing to be ashamed of in less than 30 minutes a game. The most dominant giant in the game hasn't lost a step yet... but he may in the next 2 or 3 seasons.

Shaq's presence on th court is like Baron Davis' or any other superstars' x2 -- He can change a game without having great numbers because of the effect he has on everyone else on the court. Heat players play better, get more open shots and opposing players have to rely on outside shooting. He just changes the game entirely.

They always have these NBA GM and Coaches poll asking who is the most dominant player in the game and who is the toughest to game plan for and it is always Shaq by a wide margin. It isn't a fluke.

I agree though that he will only have about 2 or 3 more seasons until he retires but as long as he is on the court with his size, skill set, and athleticism he will be the most feared player on the court.

He also has the best quotes, making him a media giant as well.