Discover the Complete NBA Standings for the 2017-18 Season and Final Playoff Results

I still remember opening my laptop on that April evening in 2018, watching the final regular season games unfold with that peculiar mix of anticipation and nostalgia. The 2017-18 NBA season had been particularly fascinating to follow, not just because of the spectacular plays and dramatic finishes, but because of how perfectly it demonstrated what it means for teams to "take it straight to the chin and go on a deep dive into the nitty-gritty of such setbacks." This phrase, which I've often used when analyzing sports turnarounds, perfectly captures the essence of what separates playoff contenders from the rest of the pack. The standings that final week told a story of resilience, adaptation, and sometimes heartbreaking near-misses.

Looking at the Eastern Conference final standings, the Toronto Raptors' dominance stood out with their franchise-record 59 wins. What impressed me most wasn't just their win total but how they'd transformed after previous playoff disappointments. They'd truly taken those setbacks straight to the chin, reworked their offensive system to emphasize ball movement, and developed a deeper bench that would prove crucial. Right behind them, the Boston Celtics' 55-win season felt particularly meaningful considering they lost Gordon Hayward just five minutes into their first game. I remember thinking at the time that Brad Stevens' coaching performance that season was among the best I'd witnessed in modern basketball – taking a team that many predicted would finish mid-conference and turning them into genuine contenders through sheer strategic brilliance. The Philadelphia 76ers' 52-win campaign marked their emergence from "The Process," with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid leading a 16-game winning streak to close the season. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers finishing fourth with 50 wins felt somewhat deceptive – they'd struggled significantly after overhauling their roster at the trade deadline, and many analysts (myself included) questioned whether they could flip the switch come playoff time.

The Western Conference race had been absolutely thrilling down the stretch, with the Houston Rockets claiming the top seed with 65 wins – the franchise's best-ever record. Their offensive system, masterminded by Mike D'Antoni and executed to perfection by James Harden and Chris Paul, was simply breathtaking to watch. The Golden State Warriors, despite what felt like a "down" year by their standards, still compiled 58 wins. What struck me about their season was how they seemed to be pacing themselves, conserving energy for the postseason grind. The Portland Trail Blazers securing the third seed with 49 wins surprised many, but having followed their late-season surge, I saw how Damian Lillard's leadership and their improved defense made them dangerous. The battle for the final playoff spots provided the usual Western Conference drama – the Denver Nuggets missing out by just one game still stings when I think about it, particularly that heartbreaking overtime loss to Minnesota in their season finale.

When the playoffs commenced, the first round delivered both expected outcomes and stunning upsets. The most shocking moment came when Indiana pushed Cleveland to seven games – I recall watching that series thinking the Pacers played with more cohesion despite having less talent. Victor Oladipo's transformation into a bonafide star was one of the season's best stories. In the West, New Orleans sweeping Portland caught nearly everyone off guard, including myself. Anthony Davis delivered one of the most dominant first-round performances I've seen, averaging 33 points and 12 rebounds while completely controlling both ends of the floor.

The conference semifinals gave us the epic Houston-Golden State showdown everyone anticipated, with the Rockets taking a 3-2 lead before Chris Paul's hamstring injury changed everything. I've always wondered how that series might have unfolded had he remained healthy – Houston was executing their switch-everything defense to perfection. Meanwhile, Boston continued their improbable run, overcoming Philadelphia in five games with a combination of disciplined defense and clutch shooting from their young players. The Cavaliers-LeBron James matchup against Toronto resulted in another sweep – the fourth straight year Cleveland eliminated Toronto from the playoffs, leading to massive organizational changes for the Raptors afterward.

The conference finals saw Golden State overcome Houston in seven games after being down 3-2, a testament to their championship pedigree. What stood out to me was how their defense intensified once their backs were against the wall – they held Houston to under 100 points in both Games 6 and 7. In the East, Cleveland outlasted Boston in seven grueling games, with LeBron James playing all 48 minutes in Game 7 while clearly battling fatigue. The image of him slumped against his locker after that game remains etched in my memory – the physical toll of carrying that team was visibly overwhelming.

The Finals delivered the expected matchup of Cleveland versus Golden State for the fourth consecutive year, but the sweep that followed surprised me given how competitive the East had been. Golden State's superiority was evident throughout, particularly in their defensive schemes against LeBron James. Kevin Durant claiming his second consecutive Finals MVP with averages of 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 rebounds capped off what I consider one of the most efficient postseason runs in recent memory.

Reflecting on that entire season, what stays with me isn't just the championship outcome but how different teams responded to adversity throughout the journey. The teams that embraced setbacks, did that deep dive into the nitty-gritty of their shortcomings, and made necessary adjustments were the ones that found success. Toronto's regular season dominance, Boston's resilience despite injuries, Houston's systematic improvement – these were all products of organizations willing to confront their flaws head-on. The 2017-18 season served as a powerful reminder that in basketball, as in life, how you respond to getting hit matters far more than the hit itself. The standings and playoff results tell us who won, but the stories behind those numbers reveal why they won, and that's what keeps me analyzing seasons years after they conclude.