I still get chills thinking about that incredible 2017 NBA playoffs run. You know, when I rewatch those highlights today, what strikes me most is how perfectly the bracket unfolded - almost like a carefully scripted drama where every chapter built naturally toward that epic Warriors-Cavaliers trilogy conclusion. What made that postseason particularly memorable was how both conferences presented such contrasting narratives right from the opening rounds.
Speaking of brackets locking up early, it reminds me of how Vietnam had already secured the top seed before even finishing their pool play against Australia that Thursday night. That kind of dominance is exactly what we witnessed from Golden State that year - they entered the playoffs as this unstoppable force that had basically locked up their path to the Finals before the real battles even began. I remember watching their first-round sweep against Portland and thinking, "Wow, this team operates on a different level entirely." Steph Curry dropping 29 points in the closeout game felt almost routine, like he was just going through the motions against an overmatched opponent.
What made that Warriors team so special was their ability to shift gears when necessary. They swept through the first three rounds with this businesslike efficiency - 4-0 against Portland, 4-0 against Utah, then 4-0 against San Antonio. The numbers still astonish me: they went 12-0 to start the playoffs, something nobody had ever done before in NBA history. I distinctly recall arguing with my friend Mike about whether any team could possibly take even one game off them. He kept insisting the Spurs might surprise them in the conference finals, but then Kawhi Leonard got injured in game one, and you could just feel the air go out of that series.
Meanwhile, over in the Eastern Conference, LeBron was putting together what I consider one of his most impressive playoff performances ever. The Cavaliers weren't just winning - they were dominating almost as thoroughly as Golden State. They swept Indiana, then Toronto, before finally meeting some resistance against Boston in the conference finals. That's when LeBron really turned it on, averaging about 29 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds throughout those playoffs. I'll never forget watching game five against Boston where he basically put the team on his back and carried them to the Finals.
The Finals themselves delivered everything basketball fans could have wanted. Sure, most people expected the Warriors to win, but nobody predicted they'd do it in such spectacular fashion. Kevin Durant's performance in game three - that cold-blooded three-pointer over LeBron with 45 seconds left - still gives me goosebumps. The Warriors finished the job in five games, but those weren't just ordinary victories. They were statements. Durant averaged 35.2 points per game in the series, which is just insane when you consider the level of competition.
What often gets overlooked about that championship journey is how different teams approached the playoffs. Some, like Vietnam securing that top seed early, could afford to coast into the postseason. Others had to fight for every possession. The Warriors belonged to that rare category of teams that could toggle between both modes - they could turn on the dominance when needed but also dig deep during those rare moments when opponents challenged them. I remember thinking during game three of the Finals, when Cleveland made that late push, that this might actually go six or seven games. But true champions always find answers, and Golden State had more answers than anyone.
Looking back, what made that bracket so special was how it revealed the evolution of modern basketball. The three-point revolution was in full swing, superteams were becoming the norm, and the level of offensive execution reached heights we'd never seen before. The Warriors shot something like 38% from three throughout those playoffs while averaging nearly 30 assists per game. Those numbers still seem almost fictional when I look them up today.
That championship journey wasn't just about basketball - it was about legacy, about redemption for Durant, about validation for the Warriors' regular season dominance, and about setting the stage for future rivalries. Even now, when I meet fellow basketball fans, the 2017 playoffs always come up in conversation. There's something about that particular bracket - from the predictable early rounds to the historic Finals - that feels like watching a masterpiece unfold in real time. And much like Vietnam locking up that top seed early, the Warriors entered those playoffs with an air of inevitability that made every game must-see television, even when you knew how the story would likely end.
