The model for winning the East is pretty clear: have LeBron on your roster. Realistically, LeBron's teams (whether the Cavs or the Heat) have been the only ones really competing in the East for a long time. There have been a few other teams - the Bulls, Magic, Pacers, and maybe the Celtics if you look back long enough have put up some real competition for the title out of the East. LeBron dismantled all of those teams except the Bulls, who tended to beat themselves instead. Honestly, nobody has really proven to be able to beat him - except the West, obviously. The East *still* hasn't figured him out and that's why he's been to six straight finals with two different teams that were both built around him the same way.

I hope that changes. The disinterest in the East is disheartening as a Pacers fan. I see PG rising up through the ranks of the elite after one of the most disgusting injuries I have seen (people have already forgotten that he played like an MVP himself for the first two thirds of the year and probably better than LeBron during the regular season). I think the Celtics have it down with a good draft day trade or simply a good draft hauk this year, and living minutes away from Butler, I know just how much of an unpredictable cinderella Brad Stevens can pull. Maybe the Raptors will have something next year too.

In other news, the West is down to a one game series. Great game, love Curry and Klay's last 8 minutes.