I still remember the 2013-2014 NBA season like it was yesterday, particularly how the standings created one of the most dramatic playoff landscapes in recent memory. That year taught me that regular season positioning isn't just about securing home court advantage—it's about creating pathways through the bracket that can either make or break championship dreams. Looking back, the way teams landed in those final standings created fascinating playoff narratives that still resonate today.
The Western Conference was absolutely brutal that season. San Antonio claimed the top seed with 62 wins, but what many forget is that the 8th seeded Dallas Mavericks finished with a respectable 49-33 record. I've always felt that team could have been a 4th or 5th seed in the East, yet they drew the Spurs in the first round. Meanwhile, the Clippers and Thunder battled for the 2nd seed until the final days, with OKC eventually securing it by just two games. That small margin meant everything—the Thunder avoided the dangerous Warriors in the second round, while the Clippers had to go through both Golden State and then the Spurs. The standings created this domino effect where matchups became everything, and I remember thinking how much playoff success came down to who you played and when.
Over in the East, Miami's 54-28 record secured them the 2nd seed, but they were only four games ahead of the 4th seeded Chicago Bulls. That tight clustering meant the Heat had to battle through Brooklyn and then Indiana just to reach the Finals, while the Pacers—who held the 1st seed for most of the season—collapsed down the stretch and nearly fell to the 3rd spot. I've always believed Indiana's late-season stumble cost them mentally, and their first-round series against Atlanta went the full seven games when it should have been a quick victory. The standings don't just reflect team quality—they shape team psychology in ways we often underestimate.
What fascinates me most about that season's playoff structure is how it demonstrated the importance of every regular season game. The difference between the 4th and 5th seeds in the West was just three games, yet that meant the difference between facing Houston or Memphis in the first round. Personally, I think Portland got the worst draw—they won 54 games but had to face Houston's James Harden and Dwight Howard combination right out of the gate. Sometimes, having a great regular season record doesn't guarantee favorable matchups, and that year proved how much luck factors into playoff success.
The standings also created some incredible underdog stories that postseason. Toronto unexpectedly claimed the 3rd seed in the East with just 48 wins, giving them home court against Brooklyn's veteran squad. Though they ultimately lost in seven games, their higher seeding provided crucial home games that nearly propelled them to the second round. Similarly, Golden State's 51-31 record only earned them the 6th seed in the stacked West, forcing them to face the Clippers in what became one of the most entertaining first-round series I've ever watched. It makes me wonder—if the Warriors had landed in the East that year, might they have reached the Conference Finals?
Reflecting on that season reminds me of something June Mar Fajardo said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards: "Tagilid kami ngayon. Pero may chance pa naman kami. Hopeful pa rin kami." That sentiment perfectly captures how teams must have felt navigating that playoff bracket—sometimes the standings put you in a tough spot, but hope and opportunity remain. The Spurs ultimately won the championship that year, but their path was heavily influenced by how other teams landed in the standings. Their first-round matchup against Dallas went to seven games, while the Thunder had to survive a brutal seven-game series against Memphis. Sometimes, I think championship runs require both skill and favorable bracket circumstances, and the 2013-2014 season demonstrated this better than any in recent memory.
