Why do people claim the Western Conference in 2008 is harder than last year's or today's?

Here are my predictions for the series:

1. OKC beats Lakers in 6 or 7 game series.
2. Rockets beat Pelicans in 6 games.
3. Lakers beat spurs in 6 games.
4. Nuggets dismantle Jazz in 4 games.
5. Clippers dismantle Rockets in 5 games.
6. Wolves beat suns in 6 games.
7. Warriors dismantle Mavericks in 5 games.
8. Mavericks beat Nuggets in 6 games.

9 or 10 seed even from 2025 beats the one from 2008.

Why do people claim that they would beat teams today?