You mentioned that you "bent this plant east so the front is probably getting a bit more sunlight".
I don't quite understand what the front is to you, but under normal conditions you should be getting your best light on the South side.
My plants usually start forming bud clusters on the bottom of the plant first. If the East is what you are referring to as the front and you bent the plant to the East then the most East facing part of the plant should be the top of the plant right(?). If that's the case and the East part of the plant is the top, then bud clusters forming on the West side(the bottom) of the plant first would be consistent with my experiences.
Am I interpreting this right?