The NBA’s balance of power has tilted toward the Western Conference in recent years, with the West frequently framed as the league’s toughest path through the playoffs. That reputation has been reinforced by the conference’s top-end quality and the consistency of its contenders.
Still, a closer look at the broader landscape shows the Eastern Conference is not as far behind as the prevailing storyline suggests. ESPN analyst Zach Kram detailed how the East’s overall strength has been underrated, pointing to indicators that the conference’s depth and competitiveness are more substantial than commonly assumed.
Reassessing conference strength
Kram’s analysis focuses on how the West’s dominance has been measured — and how those same lenses can reveal a sturdier East. Rather than treating conference perception as settled, the breakdown highlights that the East has multiple teams capable of sustaining high-level play, even if the West has drawn more attention at the top.
As the postseason approaches, the conversation isn’t simply about which conference has the biggest headliners. It’s also about how many credible teams each side can send into a playoff environment where matchups, depth and consistency matter. Kram’s review argues that, by those standards, the East’s profile is stronger than its reputation.