NBA Standings 2020-2021: Complete Team Rankings and Playoff Picture Analysis

Looking back at the 2020-2021 NBA season, I still get chills thinking about how unpredictable the standings were week to week. As someone who’s followed the league for over a decade, I’ve rarely seen such a tight race for playoff positioning—it felt like every game mattered more than usual, especially with the shortened 72-game schedule. I remember telling friends mid-season that the play-in tournament was going to shake things up big time, and boy, was I right. Let me walk you through how I approached tracking the standings and analyzing the playoff picture, step by step. First, I made it a habit to check the official NBA standings every Monday and Thursday—those were my "update days." I’d open the league’s website and note which teams moved up or down, paying close attention to the win-loss columns and winning percentages. For example, the Utah Jazz finished with a league-best 52-20 record, which honestly surprised me because I’d underestimated their consistency. But here’s the thing: raw numbers don’t always tell the full story. I learned to dig deeper by looking at strength of schedule and recent form. Take the Phoenix Suns—they started strong and never really slowed down, but I wondered if their relatively easy schedule early on inflated their position. To get a clearer picture, I used basketball-reference.com to compare teams’ offensive and defensive ratings. That’s where I noticed the Brooklyn Nets, despite having a "superteam," had defensive lapses that cost them the top seed in the East. My method involved creating a simple spreadsheet where I logged key metrics like point differentials, clutch game performance, and head-to-head records. For instance, the Lakers and Clippers battled all season, and their head-to-head matchups directly influenced playoff seeding. I’d highlight teams on the bubble, like the Golden State Warriors, who finished 39-33 and had to fight through the play-in—man, that Steph Curry carry-job was something else! One pro tip: don’t just focus on the top teams. I always kept an eye on the lower seeds because surprises happen. Remember when the Atlanta Hawks, led by Trae Young, went on that late run to secure the 5th spot in the East? I called that one early, thanks to their soft schedule in April. But here’s a caution—avoid overreacting to small sample sizes. Early in the season, I thought the Celtics were locks for a top-4 seed, but injuries and inconsistent play dropped them to 7th. It’s easy to get swept up in hype, so I learned to wait until at least 20 games before making firm predictions. Now, let’s tie this into that reference about Ateneo and Adamson scoring triumphs over separate opponents—it reminds me of how NBA teams often gain momentum from key wins. For example, the Denver Nuggets had a statement victory over the Clippers in March that, in my view, solidified their confidence for the playoffs. Similarly, underdog teams like the New York Knicks used upset wins to climb the standings, much like how Ateneo and Adamson’s successes boosted their morale in their respective leagues. I see parallels there: in any sport, a couple of well-timed triumphs can completely shift the narrative. When analyzing the playoff picture, I’d map out potential matchups based on current standings. In the West, I was obsessed with the Jazz-Suns dynamic—personally, I favored the Suns because of Chris Paul’s leadership, even though the Jazz had the better record. For the East, I thought the 76ers had a favorable path, but their bench depth worried me. Data-wise, I’d note that the top 3 seeds in each conference had win percentages above .600, but the gap between 4th and 8th was razor-thin. In the end, the NBA standings for 2020-2021 taught me that flexibility is key—injuries, COVID protocols, and surprise breakouts can turn everything upside down. I’ll admit, I had fun rooting against the superteams and cheering for small-market squads like the Jazz. If you’re trying this yourself, start with reliable sources, track trends over time, and don’t be afraid to adjust your views. And hey, if Ateneo and Adamson can pull off those triumphs, any team in the NBA can too—it’s what makes following the standings so thrilling.