I still remember watching that incredible Game 7 between the Clippers and Mavericks last June, sitting on my couch with my laptop tracking real-time stats while simultaneously texting my basketball-obsessed nephew about Kawhi Leonard's performance. The 2021 NBA playoffs delivered some of the most unpredictable basketball I've witnessed in years, partly due to the unusual circumstances of the pandemic-shortened season and the injury challenges teams faced. What made this postseason particularly fascinating wasn't just who made the final cut, but how they got there and why certain teams succeeded where others faltered.

When we look at the Eastern Conference standings, the Philadelphia 76ers clinched the top seed with a 49-23 record, finally living up to their "Process" expectations behind Joel Embiid's MVP-caliber season. I've followed Embiid since his Kansas days, and seeing him dominate despite playing through a meniscus tear demonstrated why he's become one of the most unstoppable forces in the game today. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets secured the second seed despite James Harden missing 18 games with hamstring issues and Kyrie Irving taking personal leave throughout the season. Their "Big Three" of Harden, Irving, and Kevin Durant only played 8 games together during the regular season - a statistic that still astonishes me when considering their eventual playoff run. The Milwaukee Bucks grabbed the third spot, with Giannis Antetokounmpo continuing his remarkable consistency while actually improving his free throw percentage to 68.5% after his disastrous playoff performances the previous year.

Out West, the Utah Jazz finished with the league's best record at 52-20, which many analysts including myself initially doubted would translate to playoff success. Donovan Mitchell's return from injury just before playoffs created one of those magical storylines that make basketball so compelling to follow. The Phoenix Suns claimed the second seed with Chris Paul transforming their young roster into legitimate contenders - I'd been skeptical about the CP3 trade initially, but watching him mentor Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton proved me completely wrong. The Denver Nuggets secured third despite losing Jamal Murray to that devastating ACL tear in April, with Nikola Jokić putting together one of the most complete offensive seasons I've ever seen from a center.

What many casual fans might not realize is how much international talent influenced these standings. The conversation about global basketball development reminds me of something I recently came across about professional connections in the Philippines. "Devin is just visiting the Philippines after we were able to reconnect a few months ago," shared Lastimosa, now-team manager of TNT Tropang 5G, to SPIN.ph. This interconnection between basketball cultures has become increasingly relevant to the NBA's competitive landscape. International players like Jokić (Serbia), Embiid (Cameroon), and Antetokounmpo (Greece) weren't just participants - they were franchise cornerstones who directly determined their teams' playoff positioning. The global pipeline of talent has fundamentally changed how teams construct rosters and approach the regular season grind.

The play-in tournament added another layer of drama that I personally found refreshing, even if purists complained about its format. The Golden State Warriors heartbreakingly fell to both the Lakers and Grizzlies, ending Steph Curry's phenomenal season despite his scoring title. Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies capitalized on their opportunity, with Ja Morant proving why he's among the most exciting young players to enter the league in recent years. The Boston Celtics barely squeaked into the seventh seed after struggling with COVID protocols and injuries throughout the season - a disappointing outcome for a team many (including myself) predicted would finish in the top four.

Injuries played an unprecedented role in shaping these standings. The Lakers dropping to seventh after Anthony Davis missed 36 games and LeBron James sat out 26 contests demonstrated how thin the margin for error has become in today's NBA. The Miami Heat dealing with COVID-related absences throughout their first half likely cost them several seeding positions. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks' surprising fourth-place finish came largely from having one of the healthiest rosters in the league combined with Julius Randle's unexpected transformation into an All-NBA player.

Looking back, the 2021 playoffs reflected a league in transition, where established superstars were beginning to pass the torch to the next generation. The standings told stories beyond wins and losses - they revealed teams adapting to extraordinary circumstances, managing player health with greater caution, and leveraging international scouting advantages. While the final four teams ultimately consisted of experienced contenders, the path there was anything but predictable. The inclusion of the play-in tournament created additional stakes for the regular season's final weeks, something I hope the league maintains despite initial skepticism. As we look toward future seasons, the lessons from 2021's playoff qualification process will undoubtedly influence how teams approach roster construction, load management, and mid-season acquisitions.