NBA Standings 2021-22: Complete Breakdown of Final Playoff Positions and Team Rankings

As I look back at the 2021-22 NBA season standings, what strikes me most isn't just the cold numbers but the stories behind each team's journey to their final playoff positions. Having followed the league for over fifteen years, I've rarely seen a season where the concept of building the right habits mattered more than in this particular campaign. The Phoenix Suns' remarkable consistency throughout the season perfectly embodies what Chris Paul meant when he talked about creating success through familiarity with big moments. Their 64-18 record didn't happen by accident - it was the culmination of developing championship habits that carried them through pressure situations.

The Eastern Conference standings revealed something fascinating about team development. Look at the Boston Celtics, who started the season at 18-21 but finished with a 51-31 record. Their second-half surge wasn't magic - it was about building those right habits Coach Ime Udoka kept emphasizing. I remember watching their January games and thinking they looked completely different from the team that dominated the second half. They stopped being surprised by adversity, exactly like that quote suggests, and developed a defensive identity that carried them all the way to the Finals. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat's 53-29 record and top seed position demonstrated how Pat Riley's culture of discipline creates sustainable success. Their ability to win close games - they went 24-13 in games decided by 5 points or less - shows what happens when you're not surprised by big moments anymore.

Out West, the Memphis Grizzlies' rise to the second seed with a 56-26 record was perhaps the season's most compelling story. Ja Morant's emergence as a superstar was spectacular, but what impressed me more was how their young core developed the mental toughness to handle playoff pressure. Remember when they went 10-2 without Morant? That wasn't luck - that was a team that had built habits allowing them to thrive regardless of circumstances. Their +9.1 point differential, third-best in the league, reflected a team that had internalized the process-over-results mentality. Contrast that with the Lakers' disappointing 33-49 season, where they seemed constantly surprised by the challenges of integrating new pieces. Having watched both teams closely, the difference was stark - one embraced the grind while the other seemed to expect results based on reputation alone.

What really stood out to me about the final standings was how the middle-tier teams separated themselves. The Dallas Mavericks finishing 52-30 despite the Kristaps Porzingis trade showed Luka Doncic's growth in handling adversity. The Golden Warriors returning to form with a 53-29 record demonstrated how championship habits, once ingrained, can resurface even after down years. I've always believed that the difference between good and great teams isn't talent alone - it's the institutional knowledge of how to win, and the Warriors proved that. Their core remembered how to win big games while integrating new pieces like Jordan Poole, who improved from 12 points per game to 18.5.

The play-in tournament added another layer of intrigue to the standings race. Teams like Brooklyn and Minnesota had to navigate the psychological challenge of potentially missing the playoffs despite strong records. The Nets' 44-38 finish placed them seventh, forcing them through the play-in, but their talent suggested they should have been higher. Watching them struggle with consistency made me appreciate how difficult it is to maintain focus throughout an 82-game season. Meanwhile, Minnesota's 46-36 record and return to relevance showed how a young team can grow when they stop being surprised by success.

Looking at the statistical leaders within the standings context reveals deeper patterns. The Suns' +7.5 point differential led the league, but what impressed me more was their 33-8 record in games decided by 10+ points. That's not just talent - that's a team that developed the habit of putting opponents away. The Celtics' defensive rating of 106.2 led the league, and having watched their transformation, I can tell you that came from buying into a system rather than relying on individual brilliance. The Jazz's 49-33 record masked their defensive issues, but their +6.2 point differential showed they were better than their record suggested, though they couldn't translate that to playoff success.

The standings also told stories of what might have been. The Clippers' 42-40 record without Kawhi Leonard all season was remarkably impressive, showing Ty Lue's coaching brilliance. Having covered the league for years, I've rarely seen a team maximize their potential so effectively despite missing their best player. Meanwhile, Denver's 48-34 record with Jamal Murray injured showed Nikola Jokic's incredible value, though their first-round exit proved that in the playoffs, being surprised by big moments can be costly.

As I reflect on the complete standings picture, what stays with me is how the teams that embraced process over outcomes generally fared better. The quote about developing habits and letting records take care of themselves proved prophetic. The teams that focused on daily improvement rather than standings watching - Boston, Golden State, Memphis - found themselves in strong positions when it mattered most. The teams that seemed to expect success based on reputation or individual talent often stumbled. In my experience covering the NBA, this season reinforced that sustainable success comes from building systems and habits that withstand the marathon of an 82-game season and the pressure of playoff moments. The final standings weren't just a list of teams ordered by wins - they were a report card on which organizations had built cultures capable of handling the NBA's toughest challenges.