Hey, I gotta talk about the 2021 NBA Playoff Bracket Standings. Man, it was one heck of a ride. The Phoenix Suns ended up making a deep run to the Finals. They hadn’t tasted that level of success since the Charles Barkley days. You know how it is: it’s not just about one or two star players, though. The Suns had a solid roster. Devin Booker averaged 27.3 points per game, which really set the tone. Chris Paul’s leadership, racking up 8.6 assists per game, made a world of difference too.
And, of course, we can’t forget the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo was a beast. He put up 29.2 points per game during the playoffs and capped it off with a 50-point game in the clinching match of the NBA Finals. Talk about dominating the court! It felt almost personal, watching the Greek Freak play at that level. It had been 50 years since the Bucks last won a title, which is beyond impressive. The Bucks with their hustle and grind, made that happen.
When we break down the series, you notice some pretty wild stats. For instance, the Eastern Conference was a battleground. The Brooklyn Nets had their superteam with KD, Kyrie, and Harden. Yet, they couldn’t hold up once the injuries started piling up. Kevin Durant, though, man, the dude is unreal. There was that game where he scored 48 points in Game 7 against the Bucks. That match has gotta go down in the history books.
If you look at the Miami Heat, they were back in the mix too after their Finals run in 2020, but they couldn’t quite get it going full tilt this time. They got swept in the first round by the Bucks, which was kind of surprising given they looked solid on paper. Jimmy Butler didn’t find his rhythm; averaging only 14.5 points per game in that series.
Now, let’s dive into a bit of the Western Conference. The Lakers, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, had health issues that derailed their hopes. They fell to the Suns in the first round. It was kind of a shocker but also a testament to how tough the competition can be. LeBron is 36 years old but still posting numbers some guys in their primes would envy. Man, averages like 25 points per game, 7.8 assists – the dude’s timeless.
Don’t sleep on the Utah Jazz either. They topped the regular season standings with 52 wins, but they fell short in the playoffs. Rudy Gobert, Defensive Player of the Year, couldn’t quite carry the defense when it really mattered. They had a 2-0 lead against the Clippers in the second round but lost four straight games to bow out. Donovan Mitchell was doing his best, putting up impressive averages – 32.3 points per game – but it wasn’t enough.
Speaking of the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard’s injury was a huge factor. Before he was sidelined, Kawhi was dropping stats like 30.4 points per game. They did manage to get to the Western Conference Finals though, thanks in large part to Paul George stepping up. PG13 was pretty clutch, hitting 27.2 points per game in the playoffs.
One of the “Cinderella stories,” if you will, was the Atlanta Hawks. Trae Young led that young squad very deep into the playoffs. Trae was a revelation, averaging 28.8 points and 9.5 assists per game. His performance at Madison Square Garden in the first round against the Knicks – where he shushed the crowd – will be remembered for a long time. And get this: They knocked out the top-seeded 76ers in the semis. Who saw that coming? The Hawks had that “never give up” mindset.
Every team had their own unique struggles and highlights, and the playoff race was tighter than a drum. With the Suns taking down the Lakers and then battling through the Nuggets and the Clippers, their road to the Finals wasn’t easy. Jokic and the Nuggets were no pushovers. Jokic, the MVP, was in top form, but they still fell short against the Suns. That’s the beauty of the playoffs, man – it’s unpredictable.
When you think about it, the 2021 NBA Playoffs had it all – unexpected turns, injuries, nail-biting games, and superstar performances. Guys were rising to the occasion left and right. And that’s the kind of stuff that keeps us glued to the screen, right? For all the details about the standings, you can check out the nba standings playoffs 2021 bracket for more specific info.