Looking back at the 2017 NBA Western Conference standings, I can’t help but marvel at just how grueling that season was—not just physically, but mentally. I remember watching teams night in and night out, grinding through what felt like an endless stretch of games, and thinking how much the wear and tear shaped the final playoff picture. That year, the Golden State Warriors finished on top with a staggering 67–15 record, but it wasn’t just their star power that stood out. It was the collective resilience across the conference. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs, who ended at 61–21, and the Houston Rockets at 55–27, showed that even when fatigue set in, elite squads find ways to adapt and keep winning.

One quote that really stuck with me came from a player—I believe it was from the Spurs camp—who said something along the lines of, "Even when we're tired, we keep moving, and I think we’re more efficient because we’re playing games while carrying that fatigue." That statement captures the essence of the 2017 Western Conference race. It wasn’t just about talent; it was about managing exhaustion and still executing at a high level. I saw it firsthand in games where teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Russell Westbrook’s historic triple-double season, would push through back-to-backs and still pull off wins. The Clippers and Jazz fought tooth and nail for positioning, and you could tell that the teams that embraced the grind, rather than fighting it, often came out on top.

From my perspective as someone who’s followed the league for years, the 2017 season highlighted a shift in how teams approached the marathon of an NBA schedule. Coaches were smarter about resting players—Popovich famously sat his stars strategically—but the players themselves developed a kind of mental toughness that you don’t see every year. I remember analyzing game tapes and noticing how the Warriors, for instance, would sometimes start slow on the second night of a back-to-back, only to flip a switch in the third quarter. Their ball movement and defensive rotations seemed almost sharper under fatigue, as if they’d built muscle memory for high-pressure situations. That’s where the real efficiency shone through: when teams could maintain their systems and chemistry even when their legs were heavy.

Of course, the standings told part of the story, but they didn’t capture the nightly battles. The race for the eighth seed, for example, was a dogfight between Portland, Denver, and New Orleans. I’ll admit, I had a soft spot for Damian Lillard and the Blazers that year—they clawed their way to 41 wins and grabbed that final playoff spot, and it felt deserved because of their never-say-die attitude. On the other hand, teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, who finished 43–39, impressed me with their grit-and-grind identity, even if they weren’t flashy. It’s funny, looking back, I think the West was so stacked that year that a .500 record in the East might have landed you a mid-seed, but out West, it was a scrap for survival.

When the playoffs rolled around, the toll of the regular season became even more apparent. The Warriors swept through the first three rounds, but I’ve always wondered if their relatively smooth ride was partly because they’d built such good habits during the grind. Meanwhile, the Spurs and Rockets had tougher paths, and you could see how fatigue from the tight standings race affected some of their role players in crucial moments. In the end, Golden State’s depth and efficiency—honed over those 82 games—carried them to the Finals, where they beat Cleveland in five. But for me, the real drama was in the West all along.

Reflecting on it now, the 2017 Western Conference taught me that standings aren’t just numbers; they’re a reflection of resilience. The quote about playing efficiently despite fatigue rings true not just for basketball, but for any competitive field. As a fan and analyst, I lean toward appreciating teams that embrace the struggle, and that season had plenty of them. Sure, the Warriors were the powerhouse, but the heart shown by teams like the Jazz—who overachieved with 51 wins—or the Rockets with their offensive firepower, made the conference unforgettable. If I had to pick one takeaway, it’s that in the NBA, the teams that learn to thrive under fatigue are the ones that leave a lasting legacy.