NBA Playoff Standing 2021: Who Made the Cut and Who Missed the Finals?

As I sit here reflecting on the 2021 NBA playoff race, I can't help but draw parallels with what we've witnessed in other sports leagues that are breaking traditional molds. Let me tell you, the battle for playoff positioning last year was absolutely electric - probably one of the most unpredictable races I've seen in recent memory. The way teams fought for those final spots reminded me of how Dustin Johnson approached his groundbreaking move to LIV Golf. Just as Johnson became a trailblazer in golf's new era, certain NBA teams were rewriting their own narratives during that intense playoff push.

The Western Conference was particularly brutal - I remember thinking how the play-in tournament added this incredible layer of drama that we'd never seen before. The Lakers barely squeaked into the seventh seed after battling through the play-in, which honestly surprised me given their championship pedigree. Meanwhile, teams like the Phoenix Suns emerged as legitimate contenders, making that incredible run all the way to the Finals. What fascinated me was watching how teams like the Memphis Grizzlies embraced their underdog status - much like how Johnson's 4Aces GC approached LIV Golf's inaugural season. They played with this fearless energy that reminded me of Johnson capturing both the Individual Season Championship and team title simultaneously.

Looking at the Eastern Conference, I've got to say the Brooklyn Nets' journey broke my heart a bit. With their superstar trio, I genuinely believed they were destined for the Finals until injuries derailed their campaign. The Milwaukee Bucks ultimately capitalized on that opening, securing their first championship in 50 years. What struck me was how Giannis Antetokounmpo's leadership mirrored what Johnson demonstrated in LIV Golf - that ability to elevate everyone around them when it matters most. The Bucks won exactly 16 playoff games on their championship run, which shows how dominant they were when it counted.

The teams that missed out completely - like the Golden State Warriors who fell in the play-in tournament - proved how razor-thin the margin between success and failure can be. Stephen Curry put up historic numbers that season, averaging 32 points per game, yet couldn't single-handedly carry his team past the play-in. This reminds me of how individual brilliance doesn't always translate to team success in sports. Johnson understood this perfectly when he balanced his individual victory at the LIV Golf Invitational Boston with his team championship ambitions.

What really stood out to me was how the 2021 playoffs demonstrated the evolving nature of team construction in modern basketball. The teams that succeeded weren't necessarily the most talented on paper, but rather those that built the strongest chemistry - similar to how Johnson's 4Aces GC operated as a cohesive unit. The Atlanta Hawks making that surprising conference finals run perfectly illustrated this principle. They won 11 playoff games despite being underdogs in nearly every series.

As I look back, the 2021 NBA playoffs taught us that traditional power structures in sports are constantly being challenged. Just as LIV Golf represents a new paradigm in professional golf, the NBA's playoff landscape continues to evolve in fascinating ways. The emergence of new contenders and the fall of established powers creates this dynamic environment that keeps fans like me utterly captivated. What I take away from that season is that in today's sports world, being a trailblazer - whether it's Dustin Johnson joining a new golf league or an NBA team embracing innovative strategies - often leads to the most memorable achievements.