NBA Standings 2017-2018: Complete Team Rankings and Playoff Predictions

2025-11-15 14:00

Looking back at the 2017-2018 NBA season, I still get that familiar thrill thinking about how the standings shaped up and what they meant for the playoffs. As someone who’s followed the league for over a decade, I’ve always believed that the regular season isn’t just a prelude—it’s a story in itself, filled with surprises, slumps, and stunning turnarounds. That year was no exception. I remember watching teams like the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors dominate the Western Conference, while the East felt more open, with LeBron’s Cavaliers fighting to stay on top. But what struck me most was how teams like Magnolia—though not an NBA franchise—mirrored the same struggles we see in pro sports: the need to regroup during breaks, something Lee, at 35, hoped would rejuvenate his skidding squad. It’s a reminder that whether you’re in the NBA or another league, momentum matters, and the holiday break often serves as a reset button.

Let’s dive into the Western Conference first, where the Rockets, led by James Harden and Chris Paul, finished with a league-best 65-17 record. I’ve always been a bit partial to teams that rely on three-point shooting and defensive grit, and Houston embodied that. Their offensive rating of 114.7 was off the charts, and I recall thinking they had a real shot at dethroning the Warriors. Speaking of Golden State, they ended at 58-24, which, honestly, felt like they were coasting at times. Having covered the NBA for years, I’ve seen how championship-tested teams can afford to pace themselves, but it also made me wonder if they’d peaked too early. Then there were the surprises: the Portland Trail Blazers grabbing the third seed at 49-33, and the Utah Jazz, who started slow but surged to 48-34 behind Donovan Mitchell’s rookie brilliance. Out East, the Toronto Raptors topped the standings with 59 wins, and I’ll admit, I underestimated them initially—their depth and Kyle Lowry’s leadership won me over by season’s end. The Celtics, despite losing Gordon Hayward early, still managed 55 wins, which speaks volumes about Brad Stevens’ coaching. And LeBron’s Cavs? They stumbled to 50-32, and as a longtime fan, I worried their defensive issues (allowing 109.9 points per game) would haunt them in the playoffs.

Playoff predictions are where my biases really come out, and back then, I was all in on the Rockets to make the Finals. Their style of play—spread offense, relentless pace—felt like the future, and I predicted they’d edge past the Warriors in a tough seven-game series. In the East, I had the Cavs overcoming the Raptors, mainly because LeBron has this uncanny ability to flip a switch when it matters. But let’s be real: I also thought the Sixers, with their 52-30 record and “Trust the Process” momentum, might pull off an upset or two. Reflecting on it now, I see how injuries and fatigue played bigger roles than I anticipated. For instance, the Warriors’ health down the stretch made them nearly unstoppable, and Houston’s collapse in the Conference Finals still stings a bit. It’s funny how standings can tell one story, but the playoffs rewrite it entirely.

Wrapping up, the 2017-2018 season taught me that rankings aren’t just numbers—they’re narratives in motion. Teams like Magnolia, though not in the NBA, highlight a universal truth: breaks can be game-changers, and as Lee hoped, they offer a chance to refocus. In the NBA, that translated into teams like the Jazz and Cavs using mid-season pauses to adjust and surge. If I had to sum it up, I’d say this season reinforced why I love basketball: the unpredictability, the drama, and the way a single break can turn everything around. Next time, I’ll probably trust the data a little less and my gut a bit more.