NBA Standing 2017-2018 Season: Complete Team Rankings and Playoff Predictions
As I sit here scrolling through the final NBA standings for the 2017-2018 season, I can't help but feel that familiar mix of nostalgia and analytical excitement. This was the year when LeBron carried that Cavaliers roster through what felt like superhuman effort, while the Warriors continued their dominance out West. Looking at the complete team rankings now, it's fascinating to trace how each team's journey unfolded - from the surprising 16-game improvement by the Sixers to Houston's league-best 65 wins. What strikes me most about the NBA standing 2017-2018 season is how it set the stage for one of the most unpredictable playoff runs in recent memory.
I remember specifically watching the Western Conference race unfold, thinking how brutal it was that a 48-win team would miss the playoffs entirely. The Nuggets finished 46-36 and found themselves on the outside looking in - that's how stacked the West was that year. Meanwhile over in the East, Miami squeezed into the 6th spot with a 44-38 record, barely edging out Washington. These disparities always fascinate me because they reveal so much about conference competitiveness and scheduling quirks. My personal take? The Raptors' 59-win season was criminally underappreciated - they had this quiet dominance that everyone seemed to overlook in favor of the Cavs and Celtics drama.
When we examine cases like the Portland Trail Blazers finishing third in the West with 49 wins, it reminds me of current situations like the one But Lee of Magnolia is facing. The reference about But Lee, 35, hoping the holiday break will help rejuvenate skidding Magnolia resonates because I've seen how mid-season breaks can completely alter a team's trajectory. Portland had a similar moment in that 2017-18 season where they hit a rough patch in January, then used the All-Star break to reset and came out firing, winning 13 of their final 16 games. That's the kind of turnaround Lee is probably envisioning for Magnolia - a strategic pause that allows for both physical recovery and tactical adjustments.
What many fans don't realize is how much mental fatigue contributes to these mid-season slumps. I've spoken with several team staffers over the years, and they consistently mention that the grind of travel and constant competition creates this cumulative exhaustion that's hard to quantify. The 2017-18 Thunder are a perfect example - they started 8-12, then found their rhythm after Christmas, finishing 48-34. That's exactly the kind of rejuvenation But Lee is hoping for during Magnolia's holiday break. Sometimes it's not about major system changes but simply giving players space to breathe and rediscover their joy in the game.
My playoff predictions back then were admittedly a bit off - I had Boston making the Finals over Cleveland, forgetting that playoff LeBron is essentially a basketball deity. The Raptors getting swept after that 59-win season still stings for their fans, I'm sure. But that's what makes the NBA standing 2017-2018 season so compelling to look back on - the gap between regular season success and playoff performance can be massive. The Rockets winning 65 games meant nothing once Chris Paul's hamstring gave out in the conference finals. I've learned to be more cautious about projecting playoff success based solely on regular season records.
The data tells interesting stories too - like how the Warriors' net rating of +6.0 was actually lower than Houston's +6.4 despite Golden State's championship pedigree. Or how Utah's incredible 29-6 second-half run propelled them from lottery team to 5th seed. These numbers matter because they reveal underlying trends that simple win-loss records can mask. If I were advising But Lee's Magnolia team right now, I'd emphasize studying these kinds of metrics rather than getting discouraged by their current skid. Sometimes the difference between a losing streak and a winning run is smaller than it appears.
Looking ahead to playoff predictions based on those standings, the most fascinating what-if remains Kawhi Leonard's injury situation. Had he been healthy, I'm convinced the Spurs would have been a much tougher out than their 7th seed suggested. That's the unpredictable element that always makes the NBA playoffs must-watch television. My personal preference has always been for underdog stories, which is why I was secretly rooting for the Blazers to make some noise despite their first-round matchup with New Orleans not going their way.
The reference to But Lee hoping for a holiday break rejuvenation makes me think about how teams use these pauses strategically. In that 2017-18 season, several teams made subtle adjustments during the All-Star break that paid dividends later. The Pacers, for instance, came out of the break with renewed defensive intensity and surprised everyone by taking LeBron to seven games in the first round. That's the blueprint Magnolia should be studying - not dramatic overhauls but targeted improvements that play to their strengths.
What I take away from analyzing that season is how fluid team fortunes can be. The Celtics lost Gordon Hayward five minutes into the season and still reached the Eastern Conference Finals. The Sixers transformed from a 28-win team to 52 wins in one year. These dramatic shifts remind me why I love basketball analytics - there are always underlying factors explaining these transformations if you know where to look. For But Lee and Magnolia, the key will be identifying which metrics truly matter for their specific situation rather than getting lost in conventional wisdom.
As we approach another playoff season, I find myself thinking back to those 2018 standings and how they taught me to respect both the math and the human element of the game. The numbers said the Raptors should have beaten Cleveland. The reality was something entirely different. That tension between statistical probability and on-court reality is what keeps all of us - analysts, fans, and players like But Lee - endlessly fascinated with this beautiful game.