NBA Standing 2017-18 Season: Complete Team Rankings and Playoff Predictions

Looking back at the 2017-18 NBA season, I still get chills thinking about how unpredictable the standings were right up until the final buzzer. As someone who’s followed the league for over a decade, I’ve seen my fair share of surprising turnarounds and heartbreaking slumps—but that season was something else entirely. I remember telling friends midway through, "Don’t count anyone out just yet," and boy, was I right. Teams like the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors dominated the conversation early on, but it’s the underdogs and late surges that really made the playoff race unforgettable.

When you dive into the nitty-gritty of the Western Conference that year, the Rockets’ 65-win performance was nothing short of historic. James Harden and Chris Paul formed a backcourt duo that felt unstoppable—until, of course, they weren’t. I’ve always believed that regular-season dominance doesn’t always translate to playoff success, and Houston’s eventual Conference Finals exit proved just that. Still, watching them clinch the top seed with a 7-game cushion over the Warriors was a statement. Golden State, despite dealing with injuries and occasional complacency, still locked in the second seed with 58 wins. I’ll admit, I thought they were vulnerable that year, especially with the Rockets looking so sharp. But as we’ve seen time and again, the Warriors have this uncanny ability to flip a switch when it matters most.

Then there were teams like the Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, both finishing with identical 49-33 records. As a fan, I leaned toward Portland—Damian Lillard’s clutch gene is just too compelling. But Russell Westbrook’s triple-double average for the second straight season? That’s the kind of stat you can’t ignore, even if the Thunder’s first-round exit left me shaking my head. And let’s not forget the Utah Jazz, who went on that incredible 29-6 run after the All-Star break. I called them my "dark horse" for the playoffs, and they didn’t disappoint, pushing Houston to the brink in the second round.

Over in the East, the narrative was all about LeBron James carrying the Cleveland Cavaliers—again. Finishing fourth with a 50-32 record might not sound dominant, but anyone who watched that team knew they were built for the postseason. I’ll never forget LeBron’s 82-game ironman streak; the guy was practically superhuman. Yet, it was the Toronto Raptors who snagged the top seed with 59 wins, finally shaking their reputation for playoff letdowns—well, at least until they ran into Cleveland again. The Boston Celtics, despite losing Gordon Hayward just minutes into the season, impressed me with their resilience. A 55-win season, led by a young Jayson Tatum and the gritty defense of Al Horford, showed just how deep their roster was.

Playoff predictions that season were a minefield. I remember confidently picking the Rockets to come out of the West, only to watch them miss 27 consecutive threes in Game 7 against Golden State. That stat still haunts me. It’s one thing to analyze numbers on paper, but seeing a team take it straight to the chin like that—well, it’s a harsh reminder that basketball is as much about mental fortitude as talent. In the East, I had Cavs over Celtics in six, mostly because betting against LeBron felt foolish. Sure enough, he delivered, dragging a flawed Cleveland squad to the Finals with one iconic performance after another.

What stands out to me, reflecting on those NBA standings and playoff outcomes, is how setbacks shape legacies. The Rockets’ collapse could have defined them, but instead, it fueled changes that made them even more interesting to watch in subsequent seasons. Golden State’s eventual championship—their third in four years—cemented their dynasty, yet I’d argue it was their hardest-fought title. They had to dig deeper than ever, especially with the Rockets breathing down their necks.

In the end, the 2017-18 season taught me that rankings only tell part of the story. The real drama unfolds in those gritty, unscripted moments—the missed shots, the comeback rallies, the emotional press conferences. Whether you’re a fan of advanced stats or old-school hustle, that season had it all. And as I look ahead to new seasons, I carry those lessons with me: never underestimate heart, and always expect the unexpected.