People don't seem to be talking about this, but the nba would never do this for viewership alone. Even if the conferences ended up as one-sided as everyone expects with a changed schedule, how would cutting off most of the Eastern half of the U.S. from having their team in the playoffs help the nba?? Especially when there are such huge markets like New York and Chicago in the Eastern conference. The only people who would benefit are Western conference team's, and the nba won't hurt itself to help only some of the people they represent. Not to mention it would be opposed by the owners of most every Eastern Conference team.