As I sit down to reflect on the 2021 NBA Playoffs, I can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia mixed with anticipation. This was perhaps the most unpredictable postseason in recent memory, unfolding during that strange transitional period when arenas were just beginning to welcome back limited crowds. Having followed basketball for over two decades, I've learned that playoff success often comes down to which teams can build the right chemistry at the right time - something that reminds me of the recent news about Albano reuniting with Racela and another ex-FEU Tamaraw in Patrick Sleat in the Altas camp. These basketball connections, whether in the NBA or international leagues, demonstrate how familiar relationships can create competitive advantages when it matters most.
The 2021 playoff structure itself was fascinating, compressed due to the pandemic-shortened 72-game regular season rather than the traditional 82. The play-in tournament, in its first official implementation, added an exciting layer that kept more teams engaged until the final days. I remember arguing with colleagues about whether this was good for the game - personally, I loved the added drama, though purists complained it diluted the traditional playoff format. The Western Conference featured what I considered the most intriguing matchup: the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, facing the upstart Phoenix Suns. Having watched Chris Paul's career evolve, I believed this might be his last legitimate chance at a championship, and the basketball romantic in me was rooting for him.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference presented what I called the "Brooklyn experiment" - a superteam featuring Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving that either looked utterly unstoppable or strangely vulnerable depending on the night. Their first-round opponent, the Boston Celtics, entered the playoffs with a 36-36 record, making them one of the weakest .500 teams I've seen in postseason history. The numbers told a stark story: the Nets' offensive rating of 117.3 during the regular season was historically great, but their defensive rating of 114.1 placed them in the bottom third of the league. This imbalance reminded me of those talented teams that look brilliant on paper but struggle to translate it to postseason success - a lesson that applies equally to professional and collegiate levels, much like the reunions we see in leagues overseas where former teammates come together hoping to recapture old magic.
The Utah Jazz entered as the Western Conference's top seed with a 52-20 record, though I remained skeptical about their championship credentials. Donovan Mitchell's return from injury provided a boost, but their system-heavy approach concerned me for high-stakes games where individual brilliance often decides outcomes. The Clippers, having blown a 3-1 lead against Denver the previous year, carried what I perceived as psychological baggage, while the young Memphis Grizzlies represented the exciting future with Ja Morant's electrifying play. Out East, the Philadelphia 76ers claimed the top seed with a 49-23 record, though Joel Embiid's meniscus tear created uncertainty about their ceiling. The Milwaukee Bucks, having disappointed in previous postseasons, faced immense pressure to deliver for Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose legacy was at a critical juncture.
When the games began, we witnessed immediate drama. The Lakers-Suns series turned when Anthony Davis suffered a groin injury in Game 4 - I remember watching that moment and thinking the championship hopes had literally limped off the court. The Brooklyn-Boston series became the Kevin Durant show, with him averaging 32.6 points on historic efficiency, though I couldn't shake the feeling that their defensive vulnerabilities would eventually catch up to them. The Clippers, down 0-2 to Dallas, completed what I consider the most impressive comeback of the early rounds, winning four of the next five games behind Kawhi Leonard's two-way dominance. These developments reinforced my long-held belief that health and superstar performance matter more than regular season standings, a principle that transcends leagues and levels of competition.
As we moved through the conference semifinals, the Phoenix Suns swept the Denver Nuggets in what I found to be the most convincing performance of the entire playoffs. Chris Paul, at 36 years young, displayed masterful control of games, averaging 25.5 points and 10.3 assists while shooting an absurd 62.7% from three-point range. The Hawks surprised everyone by defeating the top-seeded 76ers in seven games, with Trae Young announcing his arrival as a postseason performer despite his villain reception in opposing arenas. The Bucks narrowly survived Kevin Durant's superhuman efforts in what I still consider the best individual series performance I've ever witnessed - his Game 5 masterpiece where he played all 48 minutes and scored 49 points was basketball artistry at its finest.
The conference finals delivered contrasting narratives. The Suns built a 2-0 lead against the Clippers before Chris Paul's COVID-19 protocol absence created uncertainty - I remember thinking this might be another cruel twist in his postseason history. Meanwhile, the Bucks overcame the Hawks despite Giannis hyperextending his knee in Game 4, with Khris Middleton stepping up in what I view as the most underappreciated performance of the playoffs. The Finals matchup between Phoenix and Milwaukee presented what I framed as the "legacy series" - for Giannis seeking his first championship, for Chris Paul chasing validation, for Coach Budenholzer needing to prove his regular season success could translate to the highest stage.
The championship series unfolded with Milwaukee losing the first two games before reeling off four straight victories, becoming only the fifth team in NBA history to accomplish this Finals comeback. Giannis' 50-point closeout performance in Game 6 ranks among the greatest Finals games I've witnessed, his 17-of-19 free throw shooting particularly impressive given his previous struggles. The Bucks' championship validated their patient team-building approach, while the Suns' collapse raised questions about their mental toughness - though I'd argue they were simply beaten by a superior team peaking at the perfect moment.
Reflecting on the 2021 playoffs months later, what stands out to me is how relationships and continuity mattered more than raw talent. The Bucks had kept their core together through previous disappointments, while the Suns benefited from Chris Paul's immediate connection with Devin Booker. These dynamics mirror what we see in basketball worldwide - whether in the NBA or in situations like Albano reuniting with Racela and Sleat - where shared history and understanding create advantages that statistics can't fully capture. The 2021 postseason reinforced my belief that while superstars win championships, the supporting infrastructure of relationships, trust, and continuity provides the foundation for lasting success.