A Complete Look Back at the 2014-15 NBA Season Standings and Final Rankings

I still remember opening my laptop that June evening in 2015, watching the Golden State Warriors complete their championship run against the Cleveland Cavaliers. What struck me most wasn't just their victory, but how perfectly it capped off a season that had defied all expectations. Looking back at the 2014-15 NBA standings and final rankings reveals more than just numbers—it tells the story of franchises at crossroads, much like Eduard Folayang's career moment when he faced Amir Khan while on that five-fight losing streak. Both situations represented turning points where past performance meant nothing against present opportunity.

The Western Conference that season was absolutely brutal—I've never seen such concentration of talent in one conference. Golden State's rise to the top with 67 wins wasn't just impressive, it was historically significant. They improved by 16 wins from the previous season, which is almost unheard of for a team that was already solid. What many forget is that the Memphis Grizzlies actually held the second seed for significant portions of the season before finishing at 55-27. The Clippers and Spurs breathing down their necks created this incredible pressure cooker environment where every game mattered until the final week. I distinctly remember analyzing their schedule in March and thinking there was no way the Warriors could maintain their pace, but Stephen Curry had different plans entirely.

Meanwhile, over in the Eastern Conference, Atlanta was putting together one of the most underappreciated seasons in recent memory. Their 60-win campaign featured that incredible January where they went 17-0—I still consider that one of the most impressive monthly runs I've ever witnessed. Yet somehow, they never quite captured the public imagination like other teams. The Toronto Raptors surprising everyone with 49 wins to grab the third seed demonstrated how quickly franchises could turn things around with the right personnel moves. What fascinates me about that Eastern Conference race is how clearly separated the tiers were—you had Atlanta and Cleveland at the top, then Chicago and Toronto, followed by that massive cluster of teams from Washington through Brooklyn fighting for positioning.

The playoff picture that emerged from these standings created some instant classics. Who could forget that first-round series between the Clippers and Spurs? I stayed up until 3 AM watching Game 7, and Chris Paul's game-winner remains one of my favorite playoff moments ever. The standings had positioned them perfectly for that collision, with San Antonio as the six seed despite winning 55 games—just ridiculous when you think about it. Out East, Cleveland's path through Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta felt almost predetermined once they secured the two seed behind Atlanta. LeBron reaching his fifth straight Finals seemed inevitable from about February onward, though the Bulls certainly made them work for it.

What often gets lost in discussions about that season's standings is how many teams were in transitional phases. The Lakers winning only 21 games signaled the true end of their championship era, while New York's 17-win disaster was somehow even worse than the numbers suggest. I remember watching their games and thinking they might never recover—thankfully they eventually did, but that season was rough. On the flip side, Milwaukee jumping from 15 to 41 wins provided the blueprint for how quickly a team could rebuild with smart drafting and player development.

The final rankings tell such a compelling story about team building philosophies. Golden State's core of Curry, Thompson, and Green—all drafted by the team—proved you could build a champion through the draft if you had vision and patience. Meanwhile, Cleveland's trade for Kevin Love and LeBron's return showed the superstar-driven model still had merit. I've always been partial to the organic build approach, but seeing both methods succeed that season was fascinating. The Hawks' team-first system under Coach Budenholzer versus the Cavaliers' star-powered approach created this wonderful philosophical tension throughout the playoffs.

Reflecting on these standings eight years later, what stands out is how many franchise trajectories were determined that season. Golden State's championship launched their dynasty, while Cleveland's Finals appearance set up their 2016 comeback. For teams like Atlanta and Memphis, that season represented their peak before inevitable declines. It reminds me of that crossroads moment for Folayang—some organizations seized their opportunity like Golden State, while others like the Hawks never quite reached that level again despite their regular season success. The numbers in the standings tell one story, but the human drama behind them is what really captures my imagination as a basketball analyst. That's why I keep coming back to this particular season—it had everything from surprise contenders to fading giants, all captured in those final rankings that still spark debate among fans today.