Looking back at the 2020-2021 NBA season, I still get chills thinking about how dramatically the standings shifted throughout that condensed 72-game schedule. As someone who's analyzed basketball for over a decade, I've never seen a season where the playoff picture remained so fluid right up until the final week. The Lakers entered as defending champions but finished seventh in the Western Conference - something I certainly didn't predict when they were sitting pretty early on.
The Utah Jazz surprised everyone by clinching the best regular season record at 52-20, though I always felt their style wouldn't translate deep into playoffs. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns' incredible 51-21 run proved they were legitimate contenders rather than just regular season wonders. What fascinated me most was watching the Brooklyn Nets navigate injuries and still secure the second seed in the East - their offensive firepower was simply breathtaking to watch night after night.
In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers' 49-23 record earned them the top spot, though I personally thought Joel Embiid deserved more MVP consideration for carrying that team. The Milwaukee Bucks finishing third at 46-26 felt about right, though their playoff performance would later prove they were better than their regular season suggested. The Knicks returning to relevance with a 41-31 record was one of my favorite storylines - Tom Thibodeau worked absolute miracles with that roster.
When it comes to playoff predictions, I'll admit I got several wrong. I was certain the Lakers would flip the switch in postseason, but their first-round exit against the Suns shocked me. The Bucks' championship run actually mirrored what I've seen in combat sports - sometimes consistent pressure prevails over flashy techniques. Speaking of which, it reminds me of Marcial's unbeaten 5-0 record with 3 KOs - that perfect streak mentality is exactly what separated teams like the Bucks from more talented squads that couldn't maintain consistency.
The Western Conference playoffs delivered the drama I expected, with the Clippers' surprising conference finals appearance being the highlight for me. Meanwhile, the Hawks' unexpected run to the Eastern Conference Finals proved that regular season standings sometimes mean very little come playoff time. What struck me most was how health ultimately determined the champion - the Bucks stayed relatively healthy while contenders like the Nets and Lakers dealt with crucial injuries at the worst possible times.
Reflecting on that unique season, the final standings tell only part of the story. The true lesson I took away was that regular season success requires different qualities than playoff victories. Teams built for the long grind often struggle to adjust to playoff intensity, while squads that peak at the right moment can overcome mediocre regular season records. It's the beautiful unpredictability of basketball that keeps analysts like me constantly reevaluating what we think we know about this game.
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