Blazers guard Damian Lillard identified the underrated benefit of playing in the brutal Western Conference
Tony Dejak/AP
While that provides great entertainment and storylines with nearly every conference matchup meaning something, it will also leave some great players out of the playoffs.
Damian Lillard, the point guard of the third-place Portland Trail Blazers, sees the competition in the West as a good thing.
Speaking for the media for All-Star Weekend, Lillard explained why he likes playing in the West:
"It's really competitive in the West. Everybody knows that. I think it makes it fun - it's really fun to be a part of that type of competition where every night matters. You have to show up, you gotta put your best foot forward. I think that brings the best out of us."
Lillard's response is fairly typical - most players say playing against the best brings out the best in them, but it also highlights another point about the West, one that might be an advantage for each team.
Because the competition is so stiff, players and their teams are always prepared and have to be ready to play. While there will obviously be blowouts and off nights, by and large, teams are up for playing one another and games will be close and competitive. Whereas in the East, where there are only six teams above .500, teams may blow each other out or play down to the level of their opponents, there are rarely any teams sneaking up on one another.
The competition of the West also affects how these teams are built. Teams look to get any advantage they can, and that often means reevaluating rosters and looking for trades. The Memphis Grizzlies already made, arguably, the biggest trade thus far in the West by acquiring Jeff Green, hoping to bolster their offense. With the trade deadline nearing, most Western Conference teams will likely be active in seeking improvements and trying to top one another.
- Devyani International posts net loss of ₹48.95 crore in Q4
- ChatGPT maker OpenAI has launched GPT-4o, a new AI voice assistant
- 9 lakes to explore in Uttarakhand in summer
- Jackie Shroff moves Delhi HC, files suit against entities using his name, voice and word "Bhidu" without consent
- AI spending in India may triple to USD 5 bn by 2027: Report
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market