A Complete Breakdown of the 2017 NBA Western Conference Standings and Playoff Race

Looking back at the 2017 NBA Western Conference playoff race, I still get chills thinking about how tight things were down the stretch. As someone who’s followed the league for over a decade, I’ve rarely seen such a dramatic battle for seeding—where every game felt like a playoff elimination match from March onward. The Warriors, as expected, dominated the regular season with a staggering 67–15 record, but what truly stood out to me was the resilience and identity of teams fighting just to make the cut. I remember watching the Spurs quietly secure the 2nd seed with 61 wins, almost flying under the radar despite their consistency. But the real drama unfolded further down the standings.

Houston, led by James Harden and Mike D’Antoni’s offensive system, clinched the 3rd seed with 55 wins, and honestly, their style was just mesmerizing—they played with a kind of swagger you either loved or hated. Meanwhile, the Clippers and Jazz were neck-and-neck, finishing with 51 and 50 wins respectively. I’ve always had a soft spot for Utah’s gritty, defensive-minded approach; they felt like a throwback team in a modern, fast-paced league. And then there was Oklahoma City. Russell Westbrook’s historic MVP season, averaging a triple-double, single-handedly dragged the Thunder to 47 wins and the 6th seed. As impressive as that was, I couldn’t help but feel they were playing with fire—relying so heavily on one guy.

The battle for the final spots was where things got really messy. Memphis gritted their way to 43 wins, and Portland barely edged in with 41. But what struck me most was the fight among teams that didn’t make it—like the Nuggets, who finished 9th with 39 wins. Watching them, I kept thinking about that phrase from the reference material: "Nasa rebuilding pa kami ngayon, pero ’yung papaano sila mag-commit, iba talaga." It loosely translates to "We’re still rebuilding, but their level of commitment is just different." That sentiment perfectly captures teams like Denver and even New Orleans, who showed flashes of brilliance but couldn’t sustain it. The Pelicans, for instance, had Anthony Davis putting up unreal numbers, yet they finished 10th with 37 wins—a testament to how brutal the West was that year.

In the end, the playoff picture reflected a conference split between established powers and hungry contenders. Golden State’s dominance wasn’t just about talent; it was about a system where everyone bought in. Meanwhile, teams like the Spurs and Rockets executed with near-flawless precision. But my personal take? The real story was in the middle—teams like the Thunder and Grizzlies, who played with a kind of desperate, all-in energy that made every game must-watch TV. The 2017 West wasn’t just a standings race; it was a masterclass in how commitment, even in rebuilding phases, can define a team’s identity. And as the playoffs unfolded, that regular-season grind proved to be the perfect prelude to the chaos that followed.