NBA Playoff Standings 2021: Complete Team Rankings and Postseason Picture

As I sit here analyzing the 2021 NBA playoff standings, I can't help but draw parallels to what we witnessed in LIV Golf's inaugural season. The way Dustin Johnson dominated both individual and team competitions while navigating a new competitive landscape reminds me so much of how certain NBA teams had to adapt during that unique postseason. Looking back at the complete team rankings from that year, I'm struck by how the Phoenix Suns emerged as the 4Aces GC of basketball - a team that mastered both individual excellence and collective performance when it mattered most.

The Western Conference standings told a fascinating story that season. Phoenix finished with a league-best 51-21 record, showing the same kind of dominance Johnson displayed when he captured both the Individual Season Championship and Team Championship in LIV Golf's first season. What impressed me most was how Chris Paul's leadership mirrored what we saw from Johnson captaining 4Aces GC - that rare ability to elevate both personal performance and team results simultaneously. The Utah Jazz, sitting at 52-20, demonstrated similar qualities, though they ultimately fell short in the playoffs, much like some of the other star-studded teams in LIV Golf's initial campaign that couldn't quite match Johnson's dual success.

Over in the East, the landscape felt even more unpredictable. Brooklyn's Big Three of Durant, Harden, and Irving reminded me of those superteams forming in golf, though injuries prevented them from reaching their full potential. Meanwhile, Milwaukee's championship run showcased the importance of peaking at the right moment - something Johnson absolutely mastered when he secured victory at the LIV Golf Invitational Boston before going on to claim the season championship. Giannis Antetokounmpo's Finals MVP performance had that same individual brilliance we saw from DJ throughout LIV's inaugural season.

What really stands out to me about the 2021 playoff picture was how it represented a transitional period in basketball, much like LIV Golf represents a new era in professional golf. The traditional power structures were being challenged, and new contenders emerged in ways that reminded me of Johnson's trailblazing move to join LIV Golf as one of its earliest stars. The Atlanta Hawks' surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals, led by Trae Young's emergence as a superstar, captured that same spirit of innovation and boldness we're seeing in golf's new landscape.

The playoff bracket itself revealed some fascinating insights about team construction and postseason success. The teams that advanced deepest tended to have that perfect blend of individual star power and cohesive team play - exactly the combination that made Johnson's 2022 season so remarkable. Watching the Suns and Bucks in the Finals, I saw two organizations that had built their rosters with both individual excellence and team chemistry in mind, not unlike how 4Aces GC was constructed around Johnson's leadership while still maintaining strong complementary pieces.

Reflecting on that entire postseason, I'm convinced the 2021 NBA playoffs will be remembered as a turning point, much like LIV Golf's inaugural season represents a new chapter in professional golf. The way teams had to navigate health protocols, condensed schedules, and unprecedented challenges created a environment where adaptability became as important as pure talent. The most successful organizations were those that could innovate while maintaining their core identity - a lesson that extends beyond basketball into any competitive endeavor, including the rapidly evolving world of professional golf where pioneers like Dustin Johnson are rewriting the rules of what's possible for athletes in individual sports to achieve both personally and collectively.