Looking back at the 2017 NBA Western Conference standings, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia mixed with professional curiosity. That season was a fascinating chess match, with the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs dominating the top spots, while the race for the lower seeds was an absolute dogfight. I remember watching games night after night, analyzing how teams like the Houston Rockets, led by James Harden’s MVP-caliber season, managed to secure the third seed with a 55–27 record. From my perspective as someone who’s followed the league for years, the West was deeper than ever—a gauntlet where even a 45-win team could miss the playoffs entirely.

One memory that stands out, oddly enough, ties back to a completely different basketball scene—the Philippine collegiate league. Remember Kean Baclaan? The guy who was an absolute bucket when he was in NU? Watching him dominate in the UAAP made me think about how talent manifests differently across levels. In the NBA, every possession in that 2017 West race felt like a high-stakes version of that same intensity. Teams fought not just for wins, but for positioning that could mean facing the Warriors in the second round instead of the first. I recall discussing with colleagues how the Clippers, sitting at fourth with a 51–31 record, were a classic example of a team stuck in "good but not great" purgatory. They had Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan, yet you just knew their ceiling was limited against superteams.

When I break down the playoff predictions from that season, I have to admit I got a few wrong. Like many, I thought the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Russell Westbrook averaging a historic triple-double, would make more noise than a first-round exit. They finished sixth with a 47–35 record, and in hindsight, their lack of depth was glaring. On the flip side, the Utah Jazz, led by a young Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gobert, surprised me by clinching the fifth seed and even winning a playoff series. Their defensive identity reminded me of how fundamental basketball can still thrive in an era obsessed with three-point shooting. I’ve always believed that defense travels, and the Jazz proved it by holding opponents to around 96.8 points per game, one of the league’s best marks.

The Warriors, of course, were in a league of their own. Finishing first with a 67–15 record, they were the obvious title favorites, and rightly so. Adding Kevin Durant to a 73-win core was just unfair, and as a fan of competitive balance, it frustrated me. But professionally, you had to admire their execution. Meanwhile, the Spurs at 61–21 were the steady force we’ve come to expect, though I felt they were a step slower against elite athleticism. In the playoff mix, the Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers rounded out the lower seeds, but I never bought into their chances. Memphis, in particular, relied too heavily on grit-and-grind, which felt outdated against versatile teams.

As for dark horses, I had a soft spot for the Denver Nuggets, who just missed the playoffs at 40–42. With Nikola Jokić emerging as a playmaking center, they were fun to watch, and I argued then that they’d be a problem soon—look at them now. Reflecting on all this, my playoff predictions leaned heavily on matchups. I thought the Rockets would challenge the Warriors more than they did, but in the end, Golden State’s firepower was too much. The West in 2017 was a testament to how regular-season standings can deceive; a team’s record doesn’t always capture their playoff readiness. If I could go back, I’d emphasize roster health more, like how Kawhi Leonard’s injury derailed the Spurs’ hopes. Ultimately, that season reinforced my belief that in the NBA, talent wins out, but chemistry and timing make the story worth telling.