The East hasn't even been left behind, and there's already a 'final battle'? That's exactly what he thought. The Lakers dominated the West in the 80s for a decade, and it hasn't yet recovered. Whether it was information he gathered from training sessions before the 80-line or just his own impression, the early 90s were a dreadful time for the West.
It wasn't until Barkley joined the Phoenix Suns, sparking a trend of star players heading west, that the West slowly started showing signs of life. Then a god emerged in the East and emptied it out. This time it's even harsher, with the East unable to recover for more than 20 years.
There's just one thing he feels a bit 'ashamed' of – using the human movie essential's breakdown during the farewell game to 'scrub' 70 points and snatch the scoring title.
