Over the past nine seasons, the West owns a .579 winning percentage against the East. Turn it around and the Eastern Conference's .421 percentage reveals why finishing .500 isn't mandatory to reach the playoffs.

The disparity has been so significant the Western Conference is a mind-boggling 602 games over .500 the past nine seasons in inter-conference games.

Last year Golden State notched 48 wins and missed the playoffs. In the East - where three postseason teams had .500 records or worse - the Warriors would have been the No. 4 seed.

If the early season trend continues, a Western Conference team could make the playoffs with a sub-.500 record. For a change, East teams might need a winning record just to play in the postseason.

Why is the East closing the gap?

Boston, Detroit, Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta and Philadelphia are all capable of 45-plus-win seasons. Toronto is another Eastern Conference team with a talented young nucleus. Miami once again is a factor with a healthy Dwyane Wade. The Knicks are improved under Mike D'Antoni.

In contrast, Western Conference teams like Dallas, Sacramento and Golden State no longer are locks to play above .500. Phoenix and San Antonio are aging. Three of the league's worst teams - the Clippers, Timberwolves and Thunder - reside in the West. Memphis won't finish above .500.

Oklahoma City is doing its part. The Thunder is 0-7 against the East. Reverse OKC's record and the West would be leading the inter-league series.

Led by young stars like LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Wade, and Elton Brand and Allen Iverson switching conferences, is this the year the Eastern Conference finally wins the inter-league series?

More cross-over games are needed to draw definitive conclusions. But as Bob Dylan sang: "The times they are a changing."

Western DOMINANCE

The Eastern Conference hasn't won the head-to-head series with the Western Conference since the NBA strike in 1998-99. Listed below is the Western Conference's win-loss record and winning percentage against the Eastern Conference the past decade.

Season W-L Pct. 2007-08 258-192 .573 2006-07 257-193 .571 2005-06 252-198 .560 2004-05 256-194 .569 2003-04 266-154 .633 2002-03 250-170 .595 2001-02 232-188 .552 2000-01 259-161 617 1999-00 227-193 .540 Totals 2,257-1,643 .579

BRIGHT IDEA

Realigning the West

Art Garcia suggests in a column on NBA.com that the league needs to realign divisions next season. He points out Oklahoma City is 1,488 miles from Portland but only 185 miles from Dallas, not much farther from Houston, San Antonio and New Orleans.

The NBA hasn't talked about any realignment changes. But in tough economic times the proposal could pick up steam in upcoming months since travel would be reduced. Garcia's proposal:

Southwest - Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Antonio.

Mountain - Denver, Memphis, Minnesota, Phoenix, Utah.

Pacific - Golden State, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Portland, Sacramento.

STAR SEARCH

Yao Ming Houston Rockets 7-foot-6 center

(Being tall at a young age) I was worried that I wouldn't find a girlfriend. I also worried about how tall my kids would be, since kids are usually taller than their parents.

The area of my game I'm concentrating on most is cutting down on turnovers.

If I wasn't an NBA player I'd be a world traveler. But I don't know where I'd get the money.

My favorite food (in the U.S.) is crab cakes. In China there's too many. I can't give just one.

If I was commissioner for a day I'd cancel the salary cap.

Kobe Bryant is a player I'd pay to watch.

SNEAK PEAK

Back-to-backs

After having back-to-back days off (Sunday, Monday) for the first time in three weeks, the Thunder plays two back-to-backs this week, highlighted by a home game against the Suns followed by a trip to Cleveland to play LeBron James.

Tuesday: Phoenix: The Suns aren't running as much but they still have Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal.

Wednesday: At Cleveland: With Mason sidelined it will be interesting to see who P.J. Carlesimo puts on LeBron.

Friday: Minnesota: The first meeting at the Ford Center was the Thunder's only win before a long losing streak.

Saturday: At Memphis. The Grizzlies, led by Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo, have struggled the past 10 days.

INSIDE SCOOP

Suns sputtering

→The Suns are struggling with their identity. New coach Terry Porter says he still wants Steve Nash and company to run but the offense is sputtering.

→The Cavaliers reportedly will be very interested in acquiring Nets star Vince Carter at the trading deadline in February.

→Despite averaging 14.7 points, Miami rookie Michael Beasley is sitting the bench in crunch time late in games because he's a defensive liability.

→Warriors guard Monta Ellis had screws in his surgically repaired ankle removed but is still weeks away from returning.

→Indiana guard Danny Granger donated $500,000 to the University of New Mexico for renovation of its legendary arena, "The Pit."

→Nearly one-third of the Bobcats' games (25) will be against teams Charlotte coach Larry Brown has coached.

→Amid the league's concerted effort to distance itself from gambling, the sponsor in New Orleans' visiting locker room is Harrah's Casino.

TEMPERATURE GAUGE

Who's hot

Denver. The Nuggets are 7-1 since acquiring Chauncey Billups in a trade, including road wins over the Celtics and Spurs, the past two NBA champions. Meanwhile, the Pistons are 4-3 since acquiring Allen Iverson, although Detroit handed the Lakers their only loss.

Who's not

Washington Wizards. A playoff team the past four seasons, the Wizards are off to their worst start in nearly a decade. Washington is in danger of digging too deep a hole by the time Gilbert Arenas returns around Christmas.

BY THE NUMBERS

4,964

Number of free throws Shaquille O'Neal has missed. Last week O'Neal moved into 10th place all time in scoring with 26,395 points. "I should've been there a long time ago," Shaq said. "How many games have I missed? How many free throws have I missed?" The answer: Nearly 5,000.

101

Triple-doubles Jason Kidd has compiled in his career, third all-time behind Oscar Robertson (181) and Magic Johnson (138). It's a point guard stat but still a noteworthy accomplishment considering Dwight Howard posted his first career triple-double recently in the Ford Center.

BIG Bucks

Garnett, others cash in

Nine players will earn at least $20 million this season. The one name noticeably absent from the top 30 salary list is Steve Nash ($12.25 million).

Stars from the 2002 class - Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade - are earning the maximum allowed ($41.41 million) but will really cash in during the free agent class of 2010.

The 2005 class of Deron Williams ($5.07 million) and Chris Paul ($4.57) are close to their first eight-figure payday.

Top 30 salaries in the NBA this season (in millions of dollars).

1. Kevin Garnett, Celtics, $24.75

2. Allen Iverson, Pistons, $20.80

3. Stephon Marbury, Knicks, $20.84

4. Jason Kidd, Mavericks, $21.37

5. Jermaine O'Neal, Raptors, $21.35

6. Kobe Bryant, Lakers, $21.26

7. Tracy McGrady, Rockets, $21.12

8. Tim Duncan, Spurs, $20.60

9. Shaquille O'Neal, Suns, $20.00

10. Steve Francis, Blazers, $19.81

11. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks, $18.08

12. Paul Pierce, Celtics, $18.07

13. Shawn Marion, Heat, $17.80

14. Ray Allen, Celtics, $17.38

15. Rashard Lewis, Magic, $17.23

16. Michael Redd, Bucks, $15.78

17. Mike Bibby, Hawks, $15.23

18. Vince Carter, Nets, $15.20

19. Andrei Kirilenko, Jazz, $15.08

20. Pau Gasol, Lakers, $15.08

21. Yao Ming, Rockets, $15.07

22. Amare Stoudemire, Suns, $15.07

23. Zach Randolph, Knicks, $14.67

24. Lamar Odom, Lakers, $14.56

25. Gilbert Arenas, Wizards, $14.50

26. Ben Wallace, Cavaliers, $14.50

27. Chris Bosh, Raptors, $14.41

28. LeBron James, Cavaliers, $14.41

29. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets, $14.41

30. Dwyane Wade, Heat, $14.41