Sports
 

NBA power shifts east

By Richard Whitrock

When Shaquille O'Neal first moved to Los Angeles from Orlando, his decision marked what would become a golden age of dominance for the Western Conference of the NBA. It seems only fitting that the eastern swing of the pendulum can be marked with his movement yet again -- this time to the Miami Heat.

For many years, the balance of power in the NBA tipped so strongly to the left of the Mississippi that it was as if Ted Kennedy had something to do with it. The West wasn't just beating the East -- it was becoming embarrassing.

The East was criticized for being paper-thin. There were a few great players and maybe one truly good team, but nothing on a scale that could really compete with the West.

The East had Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce and Ben Wallace, but none of them were on the same team. In the West, there was Shaq, Kobe Bryant, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Steve Francis, Yao Ming, ad infinitem. The largesse of the West's talent finally peaked last season when the Lakers foursome eclipsed the rest of the NBA (at least in ego if not by winning the championship trophy).

In truth, things started looking up for the East the same year the New York/Phoenix trade sent Stephon Marbury and company to an already talented Knicks squad. The move signaled yet another rebuilding cycle for the Suns and the introduction of a future powerhouse with New York.

Then Rasheed Wallace joined the Pistons, LeBron James turned out not to be hype, and the rest is sheer momentum. True, McGrady came to the West and so did Kenyon Martin, but between the backcourt combo of Francis/Cuttino Mobley and the one-man-wrecking-crew that is Shaq turning their wagons east, the cards are dealt. 

Ted Kennedy's voice isn't heard anymore; it's Bob Dylan's now, and he's singin' "The Times, They Are A-Changin'".
 

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