NBA 2021 Playoff Standings: Who Made the Cut and Who Missed Out?
As I sat watching the NBA playoffs unfold in 2021, I couldn't help but reflect on how coaching changes can dramatically alter a team's trajectory - something we'd just witnessed in the PBA with San Miguel's shocking decision to reinstate Leo Austria as head coach. The 2021 NBA postseason presented one of the most unpredictable landscapes I've seen in my fifteen years covering professional basketball, with the condensed season and COVID-19 protocols creating unprecedented challenges for every franchise. What fascinated me most was how the margin between making and missing the playoffs became razor-thin this particular year, reminding me that sometimes a single coaching decision or player acquisition can mean the difference between championship contention and watching from home.
The Eastern Conference picture crystallized in ways that both surprised and confirmed what many analysts had predicted. Brooklyn's superteam of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving secured the second seed with a 48-24 record, though I always felt their defensive inconsistencies would eventually haunt them. Milwaukee grabbed the third spot at 46-26, but Giannis Antetokounmpo's supporting cast seemed stronger than in previous campaigns. The Knicks' return to relevance under Tom Thibodeau was the feel-good story of the conference, clinching the fourth seed with a 41-31 record that defied all preseason projections. Meanwhile, Atlanta's late surge under Nate McMillan pushed them to fifth at 41-31, demonstrating how a mid-season coaching change can revitalize a struggling squad - much like the Austria-Gallent swap we saw in Manila. Miami took the sixth seed at 40-32, though I never bought into their championship repeat potential with their aging roster. Boston barely squeezed in as the seventh seed with a 36-36 record, a disappointing outcome for a franchise that had reached the Eastern Conference Finals just the previous year.
Out West, the drama unfolded with even higher stakes. Utah captured the top seed with a league-best 52-20 record, though I remained skeptical about Donovan Mitchell's ability to carry them deep into June. Phoenix's stunning second-place finish at 51-21 proved Chris Paul's value as the ultimate franchise transformer, while Denver secured third despite Jamal Murray's devastating ACL injury. The Clippers landed fourth with a 47-25 mark, though their load management strategy throughout the season left me questioning their playoff readiness. Dallas took the fifth seed at 42-30, with Luka Dončić putting up historic numbers that made him must-watch television every night. Portland grabbed the sixth spot at 42-30, though their defensive vulnerabilities were glaring to anyone who watched them regularly. The Lakers' fall to seventh place after needing the play-in tournament was perhaps the biggest shocker, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis battling injuries throughout the compressed schedule.
What struck me most about the playoff picture was who didn't make the cut. Golden State's elimination despite Stephen Curry's scoring title highlighted how thin their roster had become post-Klay Thompson injury. Memphis edging them out in the play-in tournament signaled a changing of the guard in the Western Conference hierarchy. In the East, Indiana's collapse after a promising start exposed fundamental flaws in their roster construction, while Chicago's continued absence from postseason play raised serious questions about their front office decisions. Having covered the PBA for over a decade, I see parallels in how San Miguel's management handled their coaching situation - sometimes you need to make uncomfortable changes to maximize your championship window, even if it means reassigning personnel who've had previous success.
The play-in tournament added an exciting new dimension to the playoff race, though I have mixed feelings about its impact on the regular season's importance. Watching the Lakers defeat Golden State in that thrilling contest demonstrated how high-stakes basketball could elevate superstar performances, with LeBron's deep three over Curry becoming an instant classic. Meanwhile, Boston's dominance over Washington in the Eastern play-in showed that regular season underperformance doesn't always reflect a team's true playoff capability. These games created must-watch television that benefited the league's broadcast partners, but I worry they've diminished the value of the 82-game grind.
Reflecting on the complete playoff picture, the teams that missed out largely fell victim to injury misfortune and insufficient depth. The Toronto Raptors finishing 27-45 and landing outside the playoff picture illustrated how quickly a championship core can deteriorate when circumstances change. Miami's first-round exit against Milwaukee confirmed my suspicions about their regular season inconsistencies carrying over into the postseason. Meanwhile, Denver's second-round departure without Jamal Murray reinforced how fragile championship aspirations can be - one injury can derail everything. This reminds me of the calculated risk San Miguel took with their coaching shuffle; sometimes you need to make bold moves when championship windows are narrowing.
Looking back, the 2021 NBA playoffs represented a transitional period for the league, with new contenders emerging while established powers faced unexpected challenges. The teams that made the cut generally shared common traits - depth, coaching stability, and superstar talent - while those who missed often lacked at least one of these crucial elements. As we've seen in other leagues like the PBA, organizational decisiveness can separate playoff teams from lottery-bound squads. The Austria-Gallent situation in Manila exemplifies how franchises must sometimes make uncomfortable personnel decisions to optimize their championship chances, much like NBA teams facing playoff elimination must confront hard truths about their rosters and systems. Ultimately, making the playoffs requires both strategic foresight and adaptability - qualities that distinguish perennial contenders from temporary flashes in the pan.
