A Complete Guide to the Exciting 2021 NBA Playoffs Schedule and Results

2025-11-19 17:02

I remember sitting in my living room last May, absolutely buzzing with anticipation for what promised to be one of the most unpredictable NBA playoffs in recent memory. The 2021 season had been unlike any other - compressed schedule, empty arenas slowly filling back up, and teams navigating COVID protocols while trying to maintain competitive edge. As someone who's followed basketball religiously since the Jordan era, I've learned that playoff basketball operates on a different emotional frequency entirely, and the 2021 tournament delivered that in spades.

The play-in tournament kicked things off on May 18th, giving us our first taste of postseason intensity. I've got to admit, I was skeptical about the play-in format initially, thinking it might dilute the traditional playoff structure. But watching the Warriors and Lakers battle it out in that first elimination game completely won me over - the stakes felt enormous, and Stephen Curry's 37-point performance against LeBron James was pure basketball theater. The first round proper began on May 22nd, and what struck me immediately was how the condensed schedule created this relentless momentum. Teams were playing every other day, with minimal rest between series, which I believe genuinely impacted several outcomes. The Brooklyn Nets, for instance, looked absolutely gassed by the time they faced Milwaukee in the second round, despite having what many considered the most talented roster in the league.

Speaking of roster construction, watching these playoff teams made me reflect on how player movement and reunions can create fascinating subplots. The reference to Albano reuniting with Racela and Sleat in the Altas camp reminds me of similar dynamics we saw throughout the playoffs. Chris Paul's connection with Devin Booker in Phoenix comes immediately to mind - that veteran-rookie partnership just clicked in ways that defied conventional wisdom. Paul's leadership transformed the Suns, and watching them navigate through the Lakers, Nuggets, and Clippers felt like witnessing basketball alchemy. The chemistry between those two was palpable, much like when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George finally found their rhythm during the Clippers' remarkable comeback against Utah in the second round.

The conference semifinals provided some of the most compelling basketball I've seen in years. The Bucks-Nets series, in particular, felt like a heavyweight title fight. When Brooklyn took that 2-0 lead, I'll confess I thought they were cruising to the Finals. But Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee had other plans. Kevin Durant's Game 7 performance - 48 points, including that miraculous buzzer-beater that barely missed being a game-winner - might be the single greatest individual effort I've witnessed in a playoff game since LeBron's 2016 Finals heroics. The fact that Milwaukee survived that and advanced speaks volumes about their resilience.

Out West, the Suns continued their magical run by sweeping the MVP Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets. I've always been a Jokić admirer, but Phoenix's team defense exposed Denver's lack of secondary scoring options. Meanwhile, the Clippers' comeback from 0-2 down against Utah without Kawhi Leonard for the final two games was coaching masterclass from Tyronn Lue. Paul George silenced his critics with a phenomenal series, averaging over 29 points per game while playing nearly 45 minutes per contest during that stretch.

The conference finals delivered contrasting narratives. Milwaukee dispatched Atlanta in six games, though the series was closer than many anticipated - especially with Giannis missing the final two games due to that scary knee injury. The Suns closed out the Clippers in six as well, with Chris Paul finally reaching the NBA Finals after 16 seasons. I've followed CP3's career since his Wake Forest days, and seeing him finally break through felt genuinely rewarding. His 41-point closeout performance in Game 6 against the Clippers was surgical precision at its finest.

The NBA Finals themselves provided a fitting conclusion to this marathon postseason. The Suns jumping out to a 2-0 lead had many thinking we were witnessing the coronation of Chris Paul's legacy. But Milwaukee's adjustment to switch Jrue Holiday onto Paul changed everything. Giannis returning from what looked like a season-ending injury to average 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in the Finals was nothing short of heroic. His 50-point closeout performance in Game 6 felt like destiny fulfilled. Having covered numerous Finals throughout my career, I can confidently say that Giannis' performance ranks among the most dominant I've ever seen.

Looking back, the 2021 playoffs reinforced why I love this game - the narratives, the adjustments, the individual brilliance, and the team dynamics all intertwine to create something uniquely compelling. The compressed schedule created unexpected challenges, player reunions and connections shaped team identities, and we witnessed legacy-defining performances that will be discussed for years. While the basketball purist in me hopes we never see another pandemic-affected season, the 2021 playoffs delivered drama, excellence, and memories that reminded us all why we invest so much emotion in this beautiful game.