Why do NBA western conference playoff games start so late?

Like today for the Lakers-Phoenix game 1, it starts at 9:00 pm eastern time, WTF? Why don't they start it earlier like 5:00 or something. Maybe this is one of the reasons why the NFL and MLB has better ratings and more views watching their playoff games. Instead of watching NBA playoff games at 9:00 pm eastern time, people are probably sleeping or going out having fun like watching movies, night clubs, etc.|||They do start at 5. 5 pm their time. They are not going start at noon their time, to please someone on the east coast. If the game started at noon, on a monday, that arena will be empty. The NFL can get away with it cause all their games are on a sunday.|||Because the lakers went 6 games with OKC|||I completely agree, it is idiotic and stupid. The general thinking, is that they want both coasts to be able to view the game. They figure that if it is at 9:00 our time, and 6:00 west coast time, both sides can watch it, and it only throws off their schedule slightly|||because 9:00 ET is 6:00 Western Time. They can't start games at 5:00 ET, that would be at 2:00 Western time while everyone is working. Western Conference Playoffs, Western side of the country. Are you getting the connection yet?|||yeah WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yesterday should have been the west finals cause they finshed earlier. the east finals finsihed later and should have been tonight! WTF mr. stern!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!|||Different time zones. Its 9pm in the east, but its only like 6 in the west.|||For normal playoff games, especially in LA, it starts 10:30 pm EST. I guess in the West, starting at 5pm EST is to early|||Beacuse david stern is evil and wants all nba fans to suffer.Thats why he let clay bennet steal the sonics from seatlle.