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

Looking back at the 2017 NBA Western Conference standings, I can still vividly recall how the Golden State Warriors dominated the regular season with a staggering 67-15 record, a performance that felt almost inevitable given their star-studded lineup. What fascinates me most, however, is how the phrase "Nasa rebuilding pa kami ngayon, pero 'yung papaano sila mag-commit, iba talaga" resonates with several teams that season - particularly the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, who both approached their commitments with remarkable dedication despite being in different phases of team development. The Warriors' commitment to their system was unparalleled, but I've always felt James Harden's Rockets deserved more credit for pushing them to their limits during that era.

The middle of the Western Conference standings presented the most compelling narratives that season. The Clippers finished 51-31, good for fourth place, but their early playoff exit against Utah highlighted what I believe was their fundamental flaw - they never quite developed the mental toughness needed for postseason success. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder's 47-35 record and sixth-place finish masked Russell Westbrook's historic triple-double season, though I maintain their supporting cast was severely underrated. The Memphis Grizzlies clinging to the seventh spot with a 43-39 record demonstrated how veteran teams can will themselves into playoff contention through sheer determination.

What often gets overlooked in discussions about that season is how the bottom-tier teams were strategically positioning themselves for future success. The Phoenix Suns' dismal 24-58 record looks terrible on paper, but their commitment to developing young talent like Devin Booker showed foresight that would pay dividends later. The Lakers' 26-56 season was painful to watch at times, but their patient approach to rebuilding through the draft ultimately positioned them for their 2020 championship run. I've always argued that true organizational commitment isn't just about winning immediately - it's about having the courage to stick with a long-term vision even during difficult seasons.

The playoff picture that year created some unforgettable moments that still stand out in my memory. The Spurs' 61-21 record and conference finals appearance demonstrated their incredible organizational stability, while the Rockets' 55-win season showcased Mike D'Antoni's offensive genius. Portland's surprising 41-41 record and first-round exit against Golden State revealed how even .500 teams could make noise in the Western Conference gauntlet. Denver missing the playoffs with 40 wins still strikes me as one of the great injustices of that season - the Nuggets were clearly better than their record suggested.

Reflecting on that 2017 Western Conference landscape, I'm struck by how many teams were simultaneously competing while planning for the future. The Warriors' dominance felt overwhelming at the time, but the strategic commitments made by other franchises - whether in rebuilding phases or contending windows - created the foundation for the conference's current competitive balance. That delicate balance between present success and future planning, captured so perfectly in that rebuilding commitment phrase, remains the eternal challenge for every NBA organization trying to navigate the brutal Western Conference.