NBA Standing 2017-18 Season: Complete Team Rankings 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 excitement and dread that only NBA fans understand. Having followed basketball religiously since my college days, I’ve learned that the standings don’t just tell you who’s winning—they reveal stories of resilience, collapse, and sometimes, pure chaos. The 2017-18 NBA season was no different. For one, it was a year where several teams took it straight to the chin, facing setbacks that would have broken lesser squads, yet they went on a deep dive into the nitty-gritty of those challenges and emerged stronger. That’s what made the final rankings and playoff results so compelling, not just as a fan, but as someone who analyzes sports narratives for a living.

Let’s start with the obvious: the Houston Rockets. Oh, how they dominated the regular season! Finishing with a league-best 65-17 record, they were an offensive juggernaut led by James Harden and Chris Paul. I’ve always admired how Mike D’Antoni’s system maximizes guard play, and watching Harden drop 30 points per game felt like witnessing art in motion. But here’s the thing—regular season success doesn’t always translate to playoff glory, and as we’d soon see, even the mightiest can stumble. Meanwhile, out East, the Toronto Raptors clinched the top seed with a 59-23 record, a testament to their depth and coaching. I’ll admit, I had my doubts about their playoff mentality, given past letdowns, but their regular season was a masterclass in consistency.

Then there were the surprises. The Philadelphia 76ers, ending at 52-30, rode “The Process” to a 16-game winning streak to close the season. As someone who’s followed their rebuild from the start, it was thrilling to see Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons turn potential into results. On the flip side, the Cleveland Cavaliers, at 50-32, felt underwhelming. LeBron James carried that team on his back—I mean, he averaged 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game—but the midseason roster shakeup left them vulnerable. It’s one of those cases where the standings hide the turmoil beneath; they finished fourth in the East, but anyone watching knew they were leaning heavily on legacy and sheer will.

But the real drama, as always, unfolded in the playoffs. Take the Golden State Warriors, for instance. They ended the regular season at 58-24, second in the West, and honestly, I thought they were coasting. Come playoff time, though, they flipped a switch. Sweeping the Spurs and then overcoming the Rockets in a grueling seven-game Conference Finals—that was classic Warriors resilience. I still get chills remembering Game 7 of that series, where they erased a double-digit deficit to advance. It’s a perfect example of how setbacks, like their midseason injuries, can fuel a deep dive into what really matters: execution under pressure.

Speaking of pressure, let’s talk about the Cavaliers’ playoff run. They stumbled through the first two rounds, needing seven games to beat the Pacers and a sweep of the Raptors—yes, a sweep! I’ll be blunt: Toronto’s collapse was painful to watch. As a longtime fan of underdogs, I rooted for them, but they just couldn’t handle LeBron’s playoff mode. In the end, the Cavs made it to the Finals, but facing the Warriors, they were outmatched. Golden State won in a sweep, with Kevin Durant averaging 28.8 points per game in the series. It was a stark reminder that regular season rankings only tell part of the story; the playoffs are where legends are forged and flaws exposed.

Looking back, the 2017-18 season taught me that success isn’t just about avoiding failure—it’s about how you respond to it. Teams like the Rockets, who fell short in the Conference Finals, or the Celtics, who pushed the Cavs to seven games in the East without Kyrie Irving, showed that diving into the nitty-gritty of setbacks can build character. Personally, I think this season was a turning point for the league, paving the way for the player movement and strategic shifts we see today. The final standings, from the Rockets’ dominance to the Warriors’ repeat championship, aren’t just numbers; they’re a tapestry of grit, talent, and the unpredictable beauty of basketball. And as I close this reflection, I’m reminded why I fell in love with the game—it’s never just about who wins, but how they rise after taking it straight to the chin.