NBA Rankings 2022: Which Teams Dominated the Regular Season and Playoffs?

As I sit down to analyze the 2022 NBA season, I can't help but marvel at how dramatically the landscape shifted from preseason predictions to the final buzzer. Having followed the league for over fifteen years, I've developed a keen sense for spotting championship contenders early, but this season genuinely surprised me with its unpredictability. The battle for playoff positioning was particularly intense, reminding me of that crucial Converge vs San Miguel Beermen matchup that ultimately decided the No. 4 seed. That Wednesday night game where Converge edged out SMB 100-97 wasn't just another regular season contest—it was a perfect microcosm of how head-to-head results can make or break a team's playoff destiny.

What fascinates me most about tiebreaker scenarios is how they transform seemingly meaningless late-season games into high-stakes drama. When Converge and San Miguel Beermen found themselves locked in that tie for the fourth spot, their previous encounter suddenly carried the weight of an entire playoff series. I've always believed that the NBA's tiebreaker system, while sometimes complex, adds an incredible layer of strategic depth to the final weeks of the regular season. That 100-97 victory gave Converge more than just bragging rights—it granted them the precious No. 4 seed and the relative comfort of knowing SMB would need to defeat them twice in the quarterfinals to advance. From my perspective, this creates a psychological advantage that statistics can't fully capture.

The Western Conference race demonstrated why I think the NBA has the most compelling regular season in professional sports. While Phoenix and Memphis dominated throughout, the real drama unfolded in the middle of the pack. Golden State's inconsistency created opportunities for teams like Dallas and Minnesota to climb higher than anyone predicted. I'll admit I had written off the Timberwolves after their slow start, but their second-half surge proved how quickly fortunes can change in this league. The Eastern Conference meanwhile presented what I consider one of the most fascinating top-tier battles in recent memory. Boston's mid-season transformation from underachiever to powerhouse was something I haven't witnessed since the 2006 Miami Heat. Their defensive rating improvement from 113.2 in December to 106.4 by April was statistically remarkable, though if I'm being honest, I still had doubts about their ability to maintain that intensity through multiple playoff rounds.

When we examine playoff performance, the disparity between regular season dominance and postseason success became particularly evident. Milwaukee's league-best 58-24 record meant little when they faced Miami's defensive schemes in the first round. This is where my analytical side conflicts with my love for playoff unpredictability—the numbers suggested Milwaukee should cruise, but my gut told me their reliance on Giannis' heroics would eventually catch up to them. The Denver Nuggets demonstrated what I've long advocated for—building around a singular offensive genius. Jokic's playoff performance, averaging 30.2 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists, validated my belief that traditional positions matter less than ever before. Watching him dissect defenses made me reconsider my own preconceptions about center capabilities.

The Warriors' title run particularly resonated with me because it challenged the modern analytics movement that prioritizes youth and athleticism above all else. Their core of Curry, Thompson, and Green proved that championship DNA and institutional knowledge can overcome physical disadvantages. I've always been skeptical of teams that tear down their veteran cores too quickly, and Golden State's success reinforced my belief in continuity. Their offensive rating of 118.9 in the playoffs, while impressive, doesn't fully capture how they elevated their game when it mattered most. What the statistics can't show is how their playoff experience allowed them to remain calm during tense moments that would overwhelm younger teams.

Reflecting on the entire season, I'm struck by how the convergence of individual brilliance, strategic coaching adjustments, and plain old luck creates the NBA's unique drama. The lesson from Converge's narrow victory over SMB extends beyond that single game—it reminds us that every possession counts in a league where margins are increasingly thin. As we look toward next season, I'm already developing theories about which teams have learned these lessons and which remain stuck in outdated approaches. The beauty of basketball analysis is that there's always another season to test our assumptions, another playoff series to humble our predictions, and another game-winning shot that makes us question everything we thought we knew about this magnificent sport.