Discover the Final 2017 Western Conference NBA Standings and Playoff Race Results

I still remember the final weeks of the 2017 NBA Western Conference season like it was yesterday—the tension was absolutely electric. As someone who's followed basketball religiously for over fifteen years, I've rarely seen such a dramatic playoff race unfold. The Warriors ultimately claimed the top seed with 67 wins, but what fascinated me most was how teams approached their final stretch. That phrase from the knowledge base—"Nasa rebuilding pa kami ngayon, pero 'yung papaano sila mag-commit, iba talaga"—perfectly captures what separated contenders from pretenders that season. Some teams were technically rebuilding, but their commitment level determined whether they'd sneak into playoffs or watch from home.

The battle for the final playoff spots was particularly brutal. I recall analyzing the Clippers and Thunder fighting for the 4th and 5th seeds, both finishing with identical 51-31 records. What decided their positioning came down to tiebreakers and, frankly, who wanted it more during those critical final games. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers at 41-41 barely edged out the 40-42 Nuggets for the 8th seed, and I remember thinking Denver's collapse in their last two games cost them dearly. The Grizzlies secured the 7th spot with 43 wins, but their approach felt different—they played with this relentless energy that reminded me of teams destined for upsets.

Looking back, the Warriors' dominance somewhat overshadowed how competitive the middle seeds were. The Spurs quietly accumulated 61 wins for the second seed, while the Rockets' 55-win season under Mike D'Antoni revolutionized offensive basketball. But my personal favorite storyline was watching the Jazz exceed expectations with 51 wins—their defensive commitment made them terrifying playoff opponents despite their youth. Honestly, I believe teams like Oklahoma City underperformed given their talent; Westbrook's historic triple-double season was magnificent, but their first-round exit proved individual brilliance can only carry you so far.

The final standings tell one story, but having watched every crucial game that April, I can attest that the real drama was in how teams approached their "rebuilding" phases. Some franchises genuinely committed to development, while others merely paid lip service to long-term planning. That distinction became crystal clear during pressure moments. Teams like Portland, who everyone counted out, demonstrated that proper commitment could overcome talent deficits when it mattered most. The 2017 Western Conference taught me that standings don't just reflect roster quality—they reveal organizational character.