Everything started with a single trade.  This one trade changed the landscape of the Western Conference for the rest of the season.  When Pau Gasol was traded to the Lakers every other team in the West that believed they were a title contender knew they had to counter to the heist that was the Gasol acqusition.  Gasol's arrival in Los Angeles brought Jason Kidd to Dallas, Shaq to Phoenix, the Spurs picked up Stoudamire and Kurt Thomas, the Rockets traded for Bobby Jackson, and the Hornets got proven veterans for their bench in Mike James and Bonzi Wells.  The second half finish in the Western Conference is guaranteed to be one of the best in recent memory.  

It would be kind of stupid to pick a team as a favorite this early in the second half considering all of the big deals that occurred.  It has only been three games for Shaq in Phoenix but he has looked just as slow as he did this year in Miami.  Don't get me wrong I'm pulling for Shaq and the Suns to win the West but unless Shaq and the rest of the players on Phoenix can get comfortable with each other they won't even make it to the conference finals.  Kidd had a rough opening game but the last two games he has dished out 15 and 17 assists.  Everyone knows what the Gasol trade has done for the Lakers so far.   Kurt Thomas and Stoudamire provide the Spurs with even more experience and depth for the stretch run.  Bobby Jackson also gives the Rockets more experience and depth.  Mike James and Bonzi Wells bolster an unproven Hornets team and most importantly makes them deeper.

Only 5 1/2 games separate the number 1 seed (Lakers) and the number 8 seed (Golden State).  In the Eastern Conference the difference between the number 1 seed (Celtics) and the number 8 seed (76er's).  Who knows what is going to happen in the Western Conference the last couple of months?  No team figures to be able to outrun the rest and 1-7 are legit title contenders who are built for this time of the season.  This much parody in the Western Conference will be a great thing for the NBA.  While the big NBA fans watch throughout the season, most of the regular fans watch occasionally but really start paying attention when the playoffs begin.  The state that the Western Conference is in now will cause more fans to watch these last couple of months closer than in the past .  This will be one of the best finishes in NBA history and I for one can't wait to see the end result.