My friends and I have been pondering this inaccuracy. Why are the Detroit Red Wings included as being in the Western Conference in the NHL and the Detroit Pistons included in the Eastern Conference in the NBA? Is there some sort of demarcation line running between the "Joe Luis Arena" and the "Palace of Auburn Hills" that separated the East from West? This just seems crazy to me as Detroit is not even close to being in doubt of being on the Eastern side of the USA I mean Dallas is closer to the north south line of the USA than Detroit yet the Stars & the Mavericks are both in the west in their respective competitions.
I hope someone out there can help me out with an answer to this one!
2007-03-06 15:11:53 · 12 answers · asked by jpryan_cia007 1 in Sports ➔ Hockey
In the NHL, the teams are heavily weighted towards the East. It just turns out that there are 15 teams East of Detroit in the NHL, so they are put in the West. In the NBA, there aren't as many teams in the east, so Detroit is part of the East. Its just pure numbers.
2007-03-06 15:32:27 · answer #1 · answered by flamesfanjosh 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it's quite complex.
During the "expansion era", new teams were not necessarily placed in the East or West Division by geography (only two "divisions", not called conferences yet). Then, before the '74-'75 season, more teams were added to the league, causing a need for realignment and the creation of conferences. Again, teams were not placed in a division or conference by geography, and in fact they got rid of geographic references altogether (Adams, Norris, Patrick, and Smythe divisions; Prince of Wales and Clarence Campbell conferences).
Before the '81-'82 season, many of the 21 teams were again realigned to reflect geography a little better. 10 of the 21 teams at the time were east of Detroit. 10 of the 21 teams were west of Detroit. Those closest to Detroit were all put together in one Division - the Norris Division - and the teams were put in the Campbell Conference.
In 1993, the league decided to reference geography again to be more in touch with the casual fan, and the Campbell Conference became the Western Conference. Detroit was not moved to the Eastern Conference as the teams closest to it remained in the Western Conference and the rivalries there were maintained.
It's crazy, I know. Look at it this way - we may yet see Detroit in the East. It could even be next year if the Pens move to KC or Vegas.
2007-03-09 09:33:18 · answer #2 · answered by toada69 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Easy, there are more teams in the western part of the US in the NBA than in the NHL. The distinction is not really a fix line. They take half the teams put them in one conference and the other half in the other. Since most of the teams in the NHL are on the East coast, the eastern conference if filling quick leaving Detroit to the west. In the NBA with teams in market like Portland or Utah, the teams are geographically more evenly distributed, bringing the separation line more to the west. At least it s not like in the national baseball league in the 80's when Atlanta was in the west and Chicago in the East.
2007-03-06 16:12:57 · answer #3 · answered by Renaud R 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There really aren't too many teams between detroit and the west coast, and it seems like the eastern conference is really condensed onto the east coast, it's just the way the teams are dispersed. But, the Penguins may move to somewhere farther west, so Detroit may end up in the East.
2007-03-10 06:23:19 · answer #4 · answered by gleeglee25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Theres actually 16 teams east of Detroit in the NHL, Columbus is further east than Detroit, but theyre in the Western Conference too. Well, thats if you consider the Blue Jackets an NHL team.
2007-03-06 15:40:35 · answer #5 · answered by redwingsrthebest19 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i will watch hockey. Basketball is lame, easily everyone looks a freak of nature and they took each and each of the grit outta the game, you won't be able to contact all individuals. and that i desire the Pens to win reason I were given red meat with Detroit this year, they screwed me on my myth semifinals reason they performed Hasek and that i wanted Osgood to have an extra suitable start up to get credit fr the win i became beating the snot outta the team i became playing and that i lost all my goalie stats reason i did not make minimum... it became a time table issue with the NHL too... yet great lame none the a lot less. I actually have red meat with Detroit because they did not take Nashville out in 4 and that i had to observe that sorry excuse for a team play b/c it truly is what verus became making me watch. Nashville sucks, they ought to fold that team as we talk... I hate their jerseys and that i hate how they don't play with intensity and they don't hit. sorry fr ranting. i'm reliable at ranting.
2016-12-05 08:44:07 · answer #6 · answered by haltom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply put there are too many teams further east than Detroit in the NHL
2007-03-06 15:17:52 · answer #7 · answered by Justin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Different sports, different divisions. Like why are the Mets and Yankees in different leagues, or the jets-giants, white sox-cubs. Its all about alignment. The real question should be why the hell are the Dallas Stars in the Pacific division?? Know that's a laugh!
2007-03-06 15:18:11 · answer #8 · answered by Martino78 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well they might go to the east if the pens move to missouri
but right now there are just too many teams on the east coast
2007-03-07 00:02:53 · answer #9 · answered by Killer K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have some Arkansas land for sale, that features an ocean view. I think you and your friends sound like perfect buyers.
2007-03-06 17:05:33 · answer #10 · answered by West Coaster 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋