As I sat down to analyze the 2021 NBA regular season, I couldn't help but reflect on how extraordinary this particular season felt. Coming off the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, teams faced unprecedented challenges with compressed schedules and health protocols, yet what emerged was one of the most compelling regular seasons in recent memory. The Utah Jazz surprised everyone by finishing with the league's best record at 52-20, proving that team chemistry and systematic basketball could still dominate in an era increasingly focused on superstar power. Watching Donovan Mitchell evolve into a legitimate superstar while Rudy Gobert anchored the defense was absolutely mesmerizing week after week.
The Western Conference presented a fascinating hierarchy that kept analysts like myself constantly reevaluating our assumptions. Phoenix's rise from bubble perfection to legitimate contender was perhaps the season's best story - Chris Paul's veteran leadership transformed Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton into winners overnight. Meanwhile, the Lakers struggled with injuries throughout the season, and I remember thinking at the time how their championship defense was unraveling before our eyes. The Clippers, under Ty Lue's strategic brilliance, managed load management perfectly while maintaining a top-four seed, though I always felt they were holding something back for the playoffs.
Over in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers finally lived up to their potential, securing the top seed behind Joel Embiid's MVP-caliber season. Watching Embiid dominate night after night made me appreciate how far he'd come since his early injury-plagued seasons. The Brooklyn Nets, despite having three of the most gifted scorers in basketball history, never quite found their defensive identity during the regular season, and I'll admit I was skeptical about their championship chances because of it. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks quietly put together another excellent season, though many critics (myself included) questioned whether they had enough to get over the hump after previous playoff disappointments.
What made the 2021 season particularly fascinating was how durability became such a precious commodity. Thinking about the incredible ironmen of basketball history, I'm reminded of the reference to Ginebra guard LA Tenorio's remarkable 744 consecutive games streak that only ended in March 2023. In a season where players were dropping left and right due to the compressed schedule and COVID protocols, the value of players who could suit up night after night became incredibly apparent. Tenorio's streak puts into perspective how difficult consistency really is at the highest level - 744 games represents nearly a decade of perfect health and availability. While Barroca's developing streak was noteworthy, he still had miles to go to approach that level of reliability.
The teams that ultimately dominated the regular season weren't necessarily the most talented on paper, but rather those who managed health and consistency best. The Jazz lost only 10 home games all season, the Suns went on an incredible 15-3 run to close the season, and the 76ers dominated the Eastern Conference despite Ben Simmons' ongoing offensive limitations. These teams understood that regular season success comes from developing rhythms and winning the games you're supposed to win - something that sounds simple but proves incredibly difficult in practice.
Looking back, what stands out most about the 2021 season was how it rewarded systematic excellence over individual brilliance. The teams that built strong cultures and implemented systems that could withstand roster fluctuations tended to rise to the top. The Knicks' surprising run to the fourth seed under Tom Thibodeau perfectly exemplified this phenomenon - they won through defense and discipline rather than overwhelming talent. Meanwhile, teams like the Lakers and Nets that relied heavily on their stars struggled when those players missed time.
The legacy of the 2021 regular season, in my view, will be how it reminded us that basketball remains fundamentally a team sport. The most dominant teams built cohesive units where the whole exceeded the sum of its parts. They developed depth that could withstand the grueling schedule and implemented systems that created sustainable success. As we look toward future seasons, the lessons from 2021 about building resilient rosters and valuing availability as a skill remain incredibly relevant. The teams that understand this - that recognize the value of players who can string together hundreds of consecutive games like Tenorio - will continue to find regular season success even in the most challenging circumstances.
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