A Look Back at the 2017 NBA Western Conference Standings and Final Rankings

Looking back at the 2017 NBA Western Conference standings, I can’t help but feel a mix of nostalgia and admiration for how fiercely competitive the conference was that year. As someone who’s followed the league for decades, I’ve seen plenty of shifts in team dynamics, but the 2017 season was particularly memorable. The Golden State Warriors, with their star-studded lineup, finished at the top with an incredible 67–15 record, while the San Antonio Spurs weren’t far behind at 61–21. What struck me most, though, was how teams like the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder battled relentlessly for positioning, making every game down the stretch feel like a playoff preview.

I remember thinking at the time how the phrase "Nasa rebuilding pa kami ngayon, pero 'yung papaano sila mag-commit, iba talaga" resonated with so many of the mid-tier teams. It’s a Tagalog expression that roughly translates to "We’re still in the rebuilding phase, but their level of commitment is just different." That sentiment perfectly captures the mindset of squads like the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, who were clearly in transition but played with a grit that hinted at future success. The Nuggets, for instance, finished just shy of the playoffs at 40–42, but watching Nikola Jokić develop into a franchise cornerstone was a treat. On the other hand, the Thunder, led by Russell Westbrook’s historic triple-double season, clinched the sixth seed with a 47–35 record, and I’ve always felt their defensive intensity set them apart, even if they lacked the depth of the top teams.

From a strategic standpoint, the Warriors’ dominance wasn’t just about talent—it was their seamless ball movement and defensive rotations that made them nearly unbeatable. I recall analyzing their net rating, which hovered around +11.6, and thinking how it reflected a well-oiled machine. Meanwhile, the Spurs, under Gregg Popovich, maintained their trademark discipline, allowing just 98.1 points per game, which was the best in the league. But let’s be honest, as a fan, I found myself rooting for underdogs like the Memphis Grizzlies, who gritted their way to the seventh seed with a 43–39 record. Their "grit and grind" style might not have been flashy, but it embodied that commitment phrase I mentioned earlier—teams fully bought into their identity, even if they weren’t title contenders.

In hindsight, the 2017 Western Conference was a masterclass in balance between established powers and rising challengers. The playoffs that followed, with the Warriors eventually sweeping the Spurs in the conference finals, underscored how small margins separate success from disappointment. Reflecting on it now, I believe that season set the stage for the player mobility and strategic innovations we see today. It’s a reminder that in sports, as in life, rebuilding isn’t just about waiting—it’s about how you commit to the process, something every team from that year taught us in their own way.