NBA Standings 2017 West: Complete Playoff Picture and Final Rankings Analysis
As I look back at the 2017 Western Conference standings, what strikes me most isn't just the numbers—it's the sheer grit and determination that defined that season. I remember watching teams push through what should have been breaking points, and that quote about playing through exhaustion while still finding efficiency perfectly captures the spirit of that playoff race. The Warriors may have dominated with 67 wins, but the real story was how every team from 1st to 8th had to navigate the brutal Western Conference schedule while carrying the physical and mental fatigue of an 82-game marathon.
The Warriors' dominance wasn't surprising given their talent, but what impressed me was how they maintained their standard while dealing with championship fatigue. They finished 67-15, but I'll always remember that stretch in March where they looked human, dropping games to teams they should have beaten easily. That's when Steve Kerr's rotation management really shone through—he understood when to push his stars and when to let them coast, something many coaches struggle with. The Spurs at 61 wins were their usual consistent selves, though I felt they were more vulnerable than in previous years, especially on the road where they went 30-11 compared to Golden State's 33-8.
Houston's transformation under Mike D'Antoni was something I found particularly fascinating. James Harden's shift to point guard produced an offensive juggernaut that scored 115.3 points per game, but what doesn't show in the standings is how they managed their energy throughout the season. They'd have these explosive quarters where they'd score 40 points, then deliberately slow the pace to conserve energy—that strategic pacing was crucial for their 55-win season. The Clippers at 51 wins represented the tier of teams that were good but not quite contenders, and honestly, I thought they underachieved given their talent. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were brilliant when healthy, but their injury issues late in the season cost them crucial positioning.
The battle for seeds 5 through 8 was where you really saw teams embracing that "playing through fatigue" mentality. Utah's 51-win season was built on defensive discipline, but what stood out to me was how Quin Snyder managed minutes—no player averaged more than 33 minutes until the playoffs. Oklahoma City with Russell Westbrook's historic triple-double season was must-watch television, though I always felt their 47-win total flattered them somewhat. Memphis at 43 wins embodied grind culture, winning ugly games they had no business winning, while Portland's 41-win campaign felt like they were finding their rhythm just in time for postseason.
Looking at the teams that missed out, Denver's 40-win season was particularly intriguing—they were the team nobody wanted to play down the stretch. I remember thinking if the season were another month longer, they might have stolen that 8th spot. New Orleans with Anthony Davis putting up 28 points and 12 rebounds per game was fascinating to watch, but their supporting cast just couldn't provide consistent help. Dallas and Sacramento were in transition phases, while the Lakers' 26-win season was the beginning of what would become a significant rebuild.
The playoff picture that emerged was both predictable and surprising. Golden State's path seemed straightforward until you remember they had to get through a physical Memphis team and then Houston's offensive firepower. What impressed me about the Warriors' run wasn't their sweep of Portland or their gentleman's sweep of Utah—it was how they elevated their game when fatigue should have been setting in. Their ability to maintain defensive intensity while playing every other day showed a level of conditioning and mental toughness that separates champions from contenders.
San Antonio's playoff run, while ending in the conference finals, demonstrated something important about managing energy over a long season. They conserved their stars' minutes better than any team, with Kawhi Leonard playing just 33 minutes per game in the regular season. This allowed them to be fresher for the playoffs, though ultimately they couldn't match Golden State's firepower. Houston's style was built for the regular season, but in the playoffs, their reliance on three-point shooting became their Achilles' heel when the shots weren't falling.
What the final standings don't show is how close several of these races really were. The difference between home court advantage and starting on the road often came down to a single game, sometimes a single possession. I recall Utah and the Clippers being separated by just one game, and that home court advantage proved crucial in their first-round series. The Thunder, despite Westbrook's heroics, never quite found the right balance between his individual brilliance and team execution when it mattered most.
Reflecting on that season, what stands out isn't just who finished where, but how teams managed the grueling schedule. The best teams weren't necessarily the most talented—they were the ones who could play through exhaustion while maintaining efficiency. That's why Golden State's championship was so impressive—they understood the art of pacing themselves through the regular season while having another gear for the playoffs. The Western Conference that year was a masterclass in survival of the fittest, where managing fatigue became as important as any offensive or defensive scheme.