A Complete Guide to the 2021 NBA West Standings and Playoff Picture

As someone who has followed the NBA religiously for over a decade, I have to say the 2021 Western Conference standings were one of the most chaotic and fascinating races I've ever witnessed. The landscape shifted dramatically throughout that condensed 72-game season, with teams battling through COVID protocols, injuries, and the psychological toll of playing in empty arenas. What made it particularly compelling was how every game felt like it carried playoff implications from opening night through the final buzzer of the play-in tournament. I remember thinking halfway through the season that we might see the most unpredictable playoff picture in recent memory - and boy, was I right.

The Utah Jazz surprised everyone by clinching the top seed with a 52-20 record, proving that their system could dominate during the regular season even if questions remained about their playoff viability. I've always been skeptical of regular season success translating to the postseason, but Donovan Mitchell's emergence as a true superstar gave me reason to believe this Utah team was different. Right behind them, the Phoenix Suns completed their remarkable transformation from lottery team to championship contender with a 51-21 record. Chris Paul's impact on that young roster was nothing short of miraculous - he turned Devin Booker from an empty stats guy into a legitimate winner and made Deandre Ayton look like the number one pick he was always supposed to be.

Now here's where things get really interesting from my perspective. The Denver Nuggets secured the third seed despite Jamal Murray's devastating ACL tear in April, which speaks volumes about Nikola Jokić's historic MVP season. I've never seen a center orchestrate an offense quite like Jokić - his vision and passing ability are literally changing how we think about the center position. The LA Clippers landed at fourth, but honestly, I never bought into their regular season success. Ty Lue was clearly load-managing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for the playoffs, which made their seeding somewhat deceptive in terms of their true threat level.

The Dallas Mavericks grabbed the fifth spot largely on the strength of Luka Dončić's otherworldly talent, though I maintain their supporting cast still wasn't quite championship-caliber. The Portland Trail Blazers secured sixth place in what would prove to be Damian Lillard's final full season in Portland, with his heroic performances often covering for their defensive deficiencies. The seventh-seeded Lakers represent one of the biggest what-ifs in recent memory - LeBron James and Anthony Davis battled injuries throughout, and their eventual first-round exit felt inevitable given their health struggles.

Which brings me to the most fascinating development of that Western Conference race - the Golden State Warriors clawing their way to eighth place despite Klay Thompson's season-long absence. Steph Curry put together one of the most spectacular individual campaigns I've ever witnessed, winning the scoring title at age 33 while dragging a limited roster to relevance. I'll never forget his 46-point explosion against Memphis in the play-in tournament, even though they ultimately fell short. This context makes the reported Miami-Heat trade that would send their disgruntled star to Golden State absolutely fascinating to analyze in retrospect. Imagine if the Warriors had acquired that final piece during that very season - we might be looking at a completely different championship narrative.

The play-in tournament added another layer of drama that I initially hated but grew to appreciate. The Memphis Grizzlies eliminating the Warriors in that thrilling final play-in game showcased Ja Morant's emergence as a superstar, while San Antonio's inclusion reminded us of Gregg Popovich's enduring brilliance in keeping competitive teams on the floor year after year. What often gets forgotten is how close New Orleans came to crashing the party, with Zion Williamson's dominant interior scoring making them a nightmare matchup even if their defense remained suspect.

Looking back, the 2021 Western Conference playoff picture ultimately reinforced several truths about the modern NBA. The margin between contenders and pretenders has never been thinner, with health and timing often mattering more than raw talent. The Warriors' situation perfectly illustrated how quickly a dynasty can fade without the right supporting pieces, which makes that reported trade scenario so compelling to revisit. Had Golden State acquired that "final piece" during that season rather than later, the entire playoff dynamic might have shifted. The conference demonstrated remarkable depth that year, with legitimate championship aspirations extending through at least six teams - something we rarely see in either conference.

The eventual playoff outcomes validated some predictions while demolishing others. Phoenix's run to the Finals proved that regular season success can translate, while Utah's second-round collapse confirmed my suspicions about their playoff limitations. The Clippers' conference finals appearance showed the value of playoff experience and strategic load management. What stays with me most, however, is how the Western Conference that season represented a passing of the torch in many ways - from the aging Warriors dynasty to emerging powers like Phoenix and Denver, with superstars like Curry and Paul bridging the gap between eras. It was a season that balanced familiar faces with new contenders, creating a playoff picture that was both unpredictable and deeply satisfying to analyze.