Sure the overall winning percentage in the West this year is the 3rd highest it's been in the last 10 years while last year's was the LOWEST in a decade. Sure, the 53 win Nuggets (who were the worst record 1 seed in a decade) breezed through the "tough" West last year. Sure there's 5 teams on pace to get to 50 wins this season versus 2 last season. Sure, teams 6-10 all have better records than 6-10 did last season.
But despite, ALL of the FACTS above, the West was... somehow better last year... because the bottom of the conference wasn't quite as terrible as the bottom of the conference this year. It's always the bottom 2-4 teams that determine the strength of the conference guys... not the actual playoff teams.
I mean, I've said bad arguments before, but this is one of the worst I can remember in a while, with demonstrably proven FACTS in evidence to rebut it.