Subtlety is not one of my strengths
NBA looks forward to 2004-2005 realignment
For those who like to watch a bunch of oversized guys slam a ball into a hoop, you'll be interested to know that NBA realignment is on the horizon. They haven't announced how the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats will affect much other than the New Orleans Hornets moving to the Western Conference, but he's my take.
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
| Atlantic Division | Midwest Division |
|
Boston |
Dallas |
|
Philadelphia |
Houston |
|
Washington |
Memphis |
|
New York |
New Orleans |
|
New Jersey |
San Antonio |
|
|
|
| Central Division | Pacific Division |
|
Chicago |
Golden State |
|
Cleveland |
Phoenix |
|
Detroit |
Sacramento |
|
Indiana |
LA Lakers |
|
Milwaukee |
LA Clippers |
| Southeast Division | Northern Division |
|
Atlanta |
Minnesota |
|
Charlotte |
Seattle |
|
Miami |
Portland |
|
Orlando |
Denver |
|
Toronto |
Utah |
The logic behind this bracket is not fool proof, but if Memphis is switching to the West, this makes the most sense. Yes, geography majors will note that Toronto is not in the Southeast portion of the United States, but I seriously doubt David Stern is going to break up the Atlantic and Central divisions that fit neatly together just to satisfy the Raptors desire to do less traveling. In the West, calling it a “Northern” division doesn’t make much sense either, but it does make sense to bunch up those five teams. Now let’s take a look at what I’d do if I was in charge.
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
| Atlantic Division | Midwest Division |
|
Boston |
Dallas |
|
New Jersey |
San Antonio |
|
New York |
New Orleans |
|
Philadelphia |
Houston |
|
Toronto |
Memphis |
|
|
|
| Central Division | Southwest Division |
|
Chicago |
Denver |
|
Cleveland |
Phoenix |
|
Detroit |
Utah |
|
Indiana |
LA Lakers |
|
Milwaukee |
LA Clippers |
| Minnesota | |
| Northwest Division | |
| Southeast Division |
Golden State |
|
Charlotte |
Portland |
|
Miami |
Sacramento |
|
Atlanta |
Seattle |
|
Orlando |
|
|
Washington |
What I’d be doing is taking a page out of Major League Baseball’s book and offering up a 16/14 split and growing moans from everyone across the country. “It isn’t fair! More Western teams make the playoffs! Wah!” Well, the West is better anyway, and I couldn’t configure it any better geographically. Under this alignment Kevin Garnett would finally have a shot to take his T’Wolves to the NBA finals. With 3 teams in Texas and another 4 in California, pretty soon you might see a “California” division because more expansion is inevitable. I welcome your realignment comments.