I still remember the 2013-2014 NBA season like it was yesterday, particularly how it felt watching those final standings take shape. That year taught me something fundamental about basketball - the regular season isn't just about who finishes first, but about the stories that unfold along the way. The San Antonio Spurs ultimately claimed the championship, but what fascinated me more were the teams that battled through adversity, much like what June Mar Fajardo described in that memorable interview during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards. His words, "Tagilid kami ngayon. Pero may chance pa naman kami. Hopeful pa rin kami," perfectly captured the spirit I saw in so many NBA teams that season.
Looking back at the Eastern Conference standings, the Indiana Pacers secured the top seed with a 56-26 record, though I always felt they peaked too early. Miami Heat, my personal favorite that year, finished second at 54-28, and I remember thinking they were conserving energy for the playoffs - which proved true when they reached their fourth consecutive Finals. The Toronto Raptors surprised everyone by winning the Atlantic Division with 48 wins, while the Brooklyn Nets, despite their aging roster and 44-38 record, showed incredible resilience that reminded me of Fajardo's "hopeful" mentality. What struck me about the East was how teams like Chicago Bulls, dealing with Derrick Rose's season-ending injury, still managed to fight their way to 48 wins - that's the kind of determination that makes basketball beautiful.
The Western Conference was an absolute bloodbath that season, with the Spurs leading at 62-20, though Oklahoma City's 59-23 record made them legitimate threats. I've always believed that season featured the most competitive Western Conference in recent memory, with teams like the Clippers (57-25) and Rockets (54-28) looking like they could win it all. What really stood out to me was how the Phoenix Suns, predicted to be among the worst teams, shocked everyone by nearly making playoffs with 48 wins - that unexpected success story embodied the hopeful spirit Fajardo described. The Memphis Grizzlies' late surge to 50 wins after a slow start demonstrated how quickly fortunes can change in the NBA.
When the playoffs arrived, the standings told only part of the story. The Spurs' championship run was masterful, but I'll always remember how the seventh-seeded Mavericks pushed them to seven games in the first round - proof that regular season records don't always dictate playoff success. Portland's upset over Houston in the first round showed me that matchups often matter more than seeding. The conference finals between San Antonio and Oklahoma City featured the top two Western teams, validating the regular season standings to some extent, but Miami's relatively easy path through the East's weaker field highlighted the conference imbalance that season.
Reflecting on that season's final rankings now, I realize how much they mirrored the resilience Fajardo spoke about. Teams like the Spurs proved that consistent excellence pays off, while surprises like Toronto and Phoenix showed that hope and determination can defy expectations. The standings from that season tell a story about transitions - with Miami's Big Three era ending and Golden State's dynasty beginning to emerge at 51-31. What stays with me most is how those numbers on the standings page represented countless stories of teams fighting through challenges, believing in their chances even when things looked bleak, much like the hopeful spirit captured in that Manila Hotel interview. That's why I still find myself revisiting that season's narrative - it wasn't just about who finished where, but about the journey each team took to get there.
