How the 2021 NBA Playoff Standings Determined Championship Contenders
As I sat watching the 2021 NBA playoffs unfold, I couldn't help but marvel at how the standings weren't just numbers on a screen—they were telling a story about who had what it takes to become champions. Having followed basketball for over fifteen years, both as a fan and amateur analyst, I've developed this theory that playoff standings don't just reflect team performance—they actively shape championship trajectories in ways we often underestimate. The positioning, the matchups, the home court advantages—all these elements created through the standings become invisible architects of destiny, determining which teams would survive the grueling path to the finals.
The 2021 season presented one of the most fascinating playoff pictures in recent memory, with the Brooklyn Nets securing the second seed in the East despite only playing their superstar trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving together for just eight regular season games. Out West, the Phoenix Suns emerged from their decade-long playoff drought to claim the second seed with a 51-21 record, while the Utah Jazz dominated the conference with the league's best record at 52-20. These numbers mattered immensely—the Jazz's position gave them theoretical home court advantage throughout the playoffs, while the Nets' seeding meant they'd potentially face the Bucks in the second round rather than the conference finals.
What struck me most about that postseason was how the Eastern Conference standings created this perfect storm. The Philadelphia 76ers grabbed the first seed with Joel Embiid having an MVP-caliber season, but their positioning meant they'd face either the Celtics or Wizards in the first round—both teams that would push them physically. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks sat at third, creating this fascinating scenario where they'd likely have to go through both Miami and Brooklyn just to reach the conference finals. I remember thinking at the time how cruel the basketball gods were to create such a brutal path for Giannis and company.
The Western Conference told a different story entirely. The Lakers falling to the seventh seed due to injuries created this bizarre situation where the defending champions had to fight through the play-in tournament just to make the playoffs. Their eventual first-round matchup against Phoenix became one of the defining series of the entire postseason, with Anthony Davis' groin injury in Game 4 essentially ending their repeat bid. I've always believed that if the Lakers had managed a higher seed and avoided that physical Suns series early, we might be looking at a completely different championship narrative.
When we talk about how standings determine contenders, we can't ignore the psychological component. Teams that secure higher seeds develop this championship swagger—they expect to win. The Suns rode that confidence all the way to the finals, while the Hawks used their underdog fifth-seed status to play with what I like to call "dangerous freedom." There's something liberating about having no expectations, and Atlanta embodied that perfectly during their surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
This brings me to an interesting parallel I observed while following international basketball. I recall reading about Gilas Pilipinas and coach Tim Cone's approach to managing star player Justin Brownlee. Cone mentioned they would be careful with Brownlee not just for Gilas Pilipinas' two games in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, but also beyond. This strategic preservation of key assets mirrors how NBA contenders approach the playoff stretch—the Milwaukee Bucks, for instance, strategically rested Giannis Antetokounmpo in 7 back-to-back situations during the regular season, preserving him for their championship run. Both scenarios demonstrate how smart management of player workload based on tournament structure and standings considerations can directly impact championship viability.
The 2021 playoffs demonstrated that seeding creates narrative momentum that's almost tangible. The Bucks overcoming the Nets in that brutal seven-game second round series gave them this psychological fortitude that carried through to the finals. I'm convinced that if their path had been easier—if they'd faced weaker opponents early—they might not have developed the resilience needed to overcome the 2-0 deficit against Phoenix. Sometimes the hardest roads create the strongest champions.
Looking back, the data reveals some fascinating patterns. Higher seeds have won approximately 78% of NBA championships throughout league history, but what's interesting is how often lower seeds make deep runs that reshape team identities. The 2021 Hawks and Suns both exceeded expectations based on their recent histories, proving that playoff success can establish new hierarchies in the league. The Suns particularly benefited from their second seed—it gave them home court against everyone except Utah, and they capitalized beautifully, going 9-3 at home during their Western Conference run.
My personal theory—and this might be controversial—is that the NBA's play-in tournament has actually increased the importance of the top six seeds rather than diminished it. Teams now fight desperately to avoid the 7-10 seed scramble, recognizing that the additional games and uncertainty can derail playoff momentum before it even begins. The Lakers barely survived the play-in only to face immediate exhaustion against Phoenix—their championship defense essentially ended before it really began because of their seeding predicament.
In the end, the 2021 standings created this perfect alignment where the two teams best equipped for the playoff grind—Milwaukee and Phoenix—emerged from their respective conferences. The Bucks' path through Miami, Brooklyn, Atlanta, and Phoenix represented arguably the most challenging championship run in recent memory, while the Suns benefited from facing injured opponents but still had to overcome the Clippers and Nuggets in impressive fashion. The standings didn't just predict the contenders—they actively forged them through the specific challenges each positioning presented. As we look toward future seasons, I believe we'll see teams placing even greater strategic importance on seeding, recognizing that championship windows can open or close based on a single playoff matchup determined months earlier during the regular season grind.
