National Basketball Association chiefs believe they should be applauded for rejecting quick fixes in favor of a realignment plan which they say will allow the game thrive in the long run.

With television ratings hitting a 20-year low for the NBA finals last June -- when the San Antonio Spurs became the fifth successive champion from the Western conference -- the game's governing body in the United States had been under pressure to correct a perceived imbalance in strength between East and West.

However, critics say Monday's vote by the board of governors to realign the two conferences on geographical terms makes the East even weaker.

"It was the fairest, most logical step forward," the NBA's communications director Tim Andree told Reuters.

"It gives us balanced conferences in terms of numbers of teams and that is something we wanted.

"We took no interest in overall strength issues. We didn't want to give too much consideration to the short term and we were not concerned about the East-West competitive issues.

"We are happy with the changes...(They were made) with a view to sustained success."

The Charlotte Bobcats -- making their debut next season as the league expands to 30 teams -- will compete in the Eastern conference.

To accommodate the Bobcats, the New Orleans Hornets, this season one of the strongest teams in the East, will compete in the West.

THREE DIVISIONS

Each conference will from next season contain three divisions each of five teams in an expansion from the current format of two divisions per conference.

"It would be better if we weren't going out West, no question about that," Hornets general manager Bob Bass said in a statement.

"Most of the power is in the West. Most people think we've got no hope (there). Hopefully we can hold our own."

The Hornets and the Minnesota Timberwolves have little choice but to accept the plans.

The Timberwolves, who boast Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, were reported to favor a move to the Eastern conference to increase their chances of making the championship Finals.

Instead, the NBA is relying on nature to produce competitive Finals series in future.

"These things are cyclical," said Andree of the domination of one Conference over another. "In the bigger picture, the East has traditionally been just as strong."

Andree said the NBA was not looking to admit any more franchises.

"There has been a great deal of expansion under commissioner (David) Stern in the last 20 years," Andree said.

"There is also always a lot of interest in ownership, but we do not foresee any future expansion."

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