Very nice analysis by LeJuiceman on the East vs West breakdown.  I agree - Dallas, San Antonio, and New Orleans are off to weak (by recent standards) starts.  Utah, Houston, Phoenix and Portland are all very beatable.  Denver is the only Western team exceeding expectations.

On the flip side, Cleveland, Boston, Detroit and Orlando have all come out of the gate strong.  All four of these ballclubs reached the Eastern Conference semifinals last season.  New Jersey, Miami, Chicago and Atlanta haven't been too shabby, either.  I expect Toronto, Philly and Washington to improve vastly as the year goes on.

All in all, I have to agree - it's fairly safe to say that the balance of power has shifted back to the East.  But don't get me wrong...I'm thankful we don't have to see the likes of the Western elite more than a couple times a year.

Here's a look at the distribution of young talent (less than 5 years in NBA)

Young guns in East:

Bron, Wade, D. Howard, Bosh, J. Smith, D. Harris, Granger, Mo, Beasley, Rose, Iguodala, Bargnani, Augustin, Rondo, Stuckey

Young guns in West:

Paul, D. Williams, A. Jefferson, Roy, Melo, Durant, Mayo, Gay, West, Oden, Aldridge, Westbrook, Kevin M., E. Gordon, Bynum