As I look back on the NBA's 2021-22 regular season, what strikes me most isn't just the championship narrative that ultimately unfolded, but the fascinating subplots that developed along the way. Having followed professional basketball for over fifteen years, I've learned that the real story often lies beyond the championship contenders - sometimes the most compelling narratives emerge from teams fighting for respectability rather than rings. This reminds me of a fundamental truth about professional sports that we often see in leagues worldwide, including the PBA where teams like Terrafirma and Blackwater battle to escape the cellar. Even when postseason dreams have faded, professional pride and organizational momentum matter tremendously.
The Western Conference delivered one of the most surprising team performances I've witnessed in recent memory with the Memphis Grizzlies. Let's be honest - when Ja Morant went down with a knee injury in late November, most analysts (myself included) predicted the Grizzlies would stumble. Instead, they went on an absolutely remarkable 10-2 run without their superstar, proving they had developed one of the deepest rosters in the league. Desmond Bane's leap from solid role player to legitimate second option was something special to watch - his three-point percentage climbing from 43.2% to 46.1% during that stretch demonstrated his growing confidence. What impressed me most wasn't just their "next man up" mentality, but how different players stepped up in different moments - Jaren Jackson Jr. dominating defensively, Tyus Jones playing with incredible poise, and Brandon Clarke providing relentless energy off the bench.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference presented its own surprises, particularly with the Chicago Bulls' dramatic first-half surge and subsequent regression. Watching them start 27-11 before finishing 46-36 felt like witnessing two different teams. As someone who's always valued two-way players, their defensive vulnerabilities became increasingly apparent as the season progressed. DeMar DeRozan's mid-range mastery was absolutely breathtaking - his 35-point streak in December had me texting fellow basketball junkies in disbelief - but basketball remains a team sport, and their reliance on isolation scoring eventually showed its limitations against elite defensive schemes. The Bulls' story serves as a cautionary tale about regular season success not always translating to postseason readiness.
The MVP race between Nikola Jokić and Joel Embiid provided one of the most compelling positional debates I've seen in years. While Jokić ultimately secured his second consecutive award, what stood out to me was how both players elevated their games to historic levels. Jokić's efficiency numbers were simply absurd - averaging 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists while shooting 58.3% from the field as a center is video game stuff. But what doesn't show up in traditional stats is his basketball IQ - the way he manipulates defenses with his eyes and subtle movements is something I haven't seen since prime Larry Bird. Embiid's 30.6-point scoring title, meanwhile, demonstrated his evolution into the most unstoppable low-post force since Shaquille O'Neal. Personally, I leaned slightly toward Jokić because of his transformative impact on Denver's offense without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., but you couldn't go wrong with either choice.
Golden State's return to relevance provided another fascinating storyline, particularly Stephen Curry breaking the all-time three-point record. Having watched Ray Allen and Reggie Miller throughout their careers, I never thought I'd see someone so thoroughly redefine long-distance shooting. Curry's 285 threes in just 64 games before his late-season injury was on pace to shatter his own single-season record. What often gets overlooked, though, is how Draymond Green's defensive leadership anchored the Warriors until his own injury in January. Their 18-2 start demonstrated that the core still had championship DNA, while Jordan Poole's emergence as a legitimate scoring threat (his points per game jumping from 12 to 18.5) suggested the franchise had successfully bridged present and future.
The play-in tournament continued to reshape the league's competitive landscape, keeping more teams engaged deeper into the season. I've come around to appreciating this format despite initial skepticism - it creates meaningful basketball for teams that might otherwise tank. The Minnesota Timberwolves' eventual play-in victory over the Clippers showcased Anthony Edwards' ascent toward stardom, while Brooklyn's turbulent season still resulted in a playoff berth despite losing James Harden. This brings me back to that fundamental truth we see in leagues worldwide - professional pride matters. Just as Terrafirma and Blackwater battle to escape the cellar in the PBA, NBA teams fighting for play-in positioning demonstrated that competitive integrity persists even without championship implications.
Looking at the season holistically, what stands out is how player empowerment and strategic roster construction continue to evolve the game. The Celtics' mid-season turnaround after a disappointing 23-24 start showed how a single trade (Josh Richardson for Derrick White) and coaching adjustments can transform a team's trajectory. Meanwhile, Cleveland's emergence behind Darius Garland and Evan Mobley proved that patient rebuilding can yield dramatic results. As we move toward the postseason, the 2021-22 campaign reinforced my belief that basketball excellence comes in many forms - from Denver's offensive ecosystem to Miami's culture-driven approach, from Phoenix's surgical precision to Memphis' youthful exuberance. The league's health stems from this diversity of competitive approaches, ensuring that every game matters in its own way, whether determining championship contenders or simply building for tomorrow.
