NBA Standings 2021 Regular Season: Complete Team Rankings and Playoff Predictions

I still remember sitting in my living room last April, watching that incredible overtime battle between Golden State and Memphis, thinking how dramatically the NBA landscape had shifted from just two years prior. Having covered basketball for over fifteen years, I’ve learned that regular season standings aren’t just numbers—they tell stories of resilience, strategy, and sometimes, pure luck. The 2021 NBA regular season was no exception, delivering one of the most compressed and unpredictable races I’ve witnessed. What fascinates me most, though, is how a single team or player can redefine a rivalry or a conference’s balance—much like how Ramil de Jesus, the legendary La Salle coach, pinpointed Alyssa Valdez as the transformational figure in the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry. In the NBA, we saw similar game-changers: Kevin Durant’s return from injury, Chris Paul’s leadership in Phoenix, and the emergence of young stars like Ja Morant. These elements didn’t just shape the standings; they rewrote expectations.

Let’s start with the Western Conference, where the Utah Jazz surprised everyone by clinching the top seed with a 52-20 record. Honestly, I didn’t see that coming—I had the Lakers repeating their dominance, but injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis derailed their season, dropping them to the 7th spot and into the play-in tournament. The Phoenix Suns, led by the ageless Chris Paul, finished second at 51-21, and I’ve got to say, their chemistry was a joy to watch. Paul’s impact reminds me of what Coach de Jesus described about Valdez: a player who doesn’t just score points but elevates everyone around them. Out West, the playoff picture was tight, with the Mavericks and Trail Blazers fighting for positioning, and the Warriors squeezing into the 8th seed thanks to Stephen Curry’s historic scoring run. Curry, in my opinion, was the MVP of the second half, averaging something like 32 points per game and dragging a limited roster into contention.

Over in the East, the Brooklyn Nets assembled a superteam with Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, finishing second with a 48-24 record, just behind the Philadelphia 76ers who went 49-23. I’ll admit, I was skeptical about Brooklyn’s chemistry early on—too many stars can sometimes clash—but their offensive firepower was undeniable. The Milwaukee Bucks, at third with 46-26, felt like a dark horse to me, given Giannis Antetokounmpo’s relentless drive. What stood out in the East, though, was the depth: teams like the Knicks and Hawks surged into the playoffs, with New York ending an eight-year drought. That kind of turnaround isn’t just about talent; it’s about culture shifts, similar to how Valdez changed the dynamics in collegiate volleyball rivalries by setting new standards of excellence.

Now, looking at playoff predictions, I’ve got some strong opinions based on these standings. In the West, I predicted the Jazz would make a deep run but fall short in the conference finals to the Lakers—if healthy. Why? Because playoff basketball rewards experience, and LeBron’s leadership is unmatched. For the Suns, I saw them as a potential upset candidate, but they needed Devin Booker to shine in clutch moments. In the East, I favored the Nets to come out on top, despite their defensive woes. Their Big Three, when focused, felt unstoppable, and I figured they’d outscore anyone in a seven-game series. The 76ers, with Joel Embiid dominating the paint, were my second pick, but I worried about their perimeter shooting under pressure. As for dark horses, I loved the Bucks’ chances if they could overcome their playoff jitters—Giannis deserved a breakthrough, and their roster depth, including Jrue Holiday’s defense, gave them an edge.

Reflecting on the 2021 season as a whole, it’s clear that the standings were a mosaic of surprises and resurgences. From a personal standpoint, covering this season reinforced my belief that data alone doesn’t capture the human element—the injuries, the locker room dynamics, the individual brilliance that can tilt entire conferences. Just as Coach de Jesus highlighted how one player like Alyssa Valdez reshaped a decades-long rivalry, the NBA saw figures like Curry and Durant redefine what’s possible. Moving forward, I think this season will be remembered as a turning point, where young teams gained confidence and established stars adapted to new roles. For fans and analysts alike, it’s a reminder to enjoy the unpredictability—because in sports, as in life, the standings are never just numbers; they’re stories waiting to be told.