Let me tell you, as someone who's followed the NBA for over twenty years, I've never witnessed a postseason quite like the 2021 playoffs. We've seen dynasties rise and fall, legendary individual performances, and shocking upsets, but this particular season felt different right from the start. It was a perfect storm of circumstances that created what I believe is the most unforgettable playoff run in recent memory. The condensed schedule, the lingering effects of the pandemic, and a palpable shift in the league's power dynamics all converged to create a tournament of pure, unadulterated chaos and brilliance.
I remember thinking during the first round that the intensity was already at a Finals level. The players were operating on a different physical and emotional plane. You have to understand, teams were coming off one of the most bizarre regular seasons in history, played in bubbles and empty arenas, and the whiplash of returning to a more normal, yet still travel-heavy, schedule took its toll. This was never more evident than in the injury bug that decimated the championship favorites. When the LA Lakers' Anthony Davis went down with a groin strain against the Phoenix Suns, you could feel the entire landscape of the playoffs shift. It wasn't just the Lakers; Jamal Murray was already out for the Nuggets, the Brooklyn Nets' "Big Three" was never fully healthy, and Kawhi Leonard tore his ACL during the Clippers' run. This opened the door for teams that, in a typical year, might not have had a real shot.
This is where the concept of team chemistry and adjustment, something highlighted in that quote from Roger Pogoy in the PBA, becomes so crucial. He said, "Honestly, galing kami sa dalawang conferences na nandun si Rondae, so talagang nag-aadjust din kami," which translates to the challenge of adjusting to a new teammate after building chemistry in previous conferences. This mirrors exactly what we saw in the NBA. The Phoenix Suns, for instance, had just acquired Chris Paul. They weren't just adjusting to his playmaking; they were adjusting to his leadership and demanding mentality. That process, which usually takes a full season or more, was accelerated and put under the brightest possible spotlight. Their run to the Finals wasn't just about talent; it was about a group mastering that adjustment on the fly, under immense pressure. The same could be said for the Milwaukee Bucks. They had been a great regular season team for years, but the pressure to finally break through was immense. When they went down 0-2 to the Nets in the second round, many, including myself, wrote them off. But their adjustment—sticking with their system, trusting each other, and witnessing Giannis Antetokounmpo's superhuman performance in the Finals—was a masterclass in team building.
And let's talk about those individual moments, the kind that get etched into basketball folklore forever. Kevin Durant's size-16 shoe on the three-point line in Game 7 against the Bucks. That shot was this close from being arguably the greatest game-winner in playoff history. I was watching that game live, and I literally jumped off my couch. The collective gasp from the crowd, the sheer disbelief—it was cinematic. Then you have Giannis, just a few weeks later, dropping 50 points in a closeout Finals game, a performance so dominant and emotionally charged that it felt like a coronation. These weren't just great games; they were narrative-fulfilling spectacles. We witnessed the rise of new superstars, too. Trae Young shushing the Madison Square Garden crowd, Devin Booker announcing his arrival on the league's biggest stage, and the emergence of a grittier, more determined version of Paul George carrying the Clippers in Leonard's absence.
From a purely tactical standpoint, the playoffs were fascinating. We saw the continued evolution of positionless basketball and the strategic importance of the five-out offense. The Atlanta Hawks, a team that finished the regular season with a 41-31 record, rode this modern system all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. It felt like a validation of a new school of thought, proving that a well-drilled system with versatile players could topple more top-heavy, superstar-driven teams. The average number of three-point attempts per game in the playoffs hit a record 34.5, a statistic that underscores how the game has fundamentally changed. Defense didn't disappear, though; it just transformed. The switching schemes employed by teams like the Bucks and Suns, demanding communication and versatility from all five players, were a direct response to this offensive revolution.
So why does the 2021 season stand above the rest for me? It's the raw, unfiltered humanity of it all. After a year of isolation and uncertainty, the playoffs felt like a triumphant, if messy, return to life. The arenas were filling up again, the energy was returning, and the players seemed to be playing with a renewed sense of purpose. It was a season devoid of a predetermined script. There was no super-team that steamrolled everyone. Instead, we got a thrilling, unpredictable drama where resilience and adaptability were the ultimate currencies. The 2021 NBA Playoffs weren't about a single team's destiny; they were about the beautiful, chaotic, and unforgettable journey of an entire league finding its footing again and reminding us all why we love this game. The injuries were tragic, the moments were historic, and the storylines were perfectly imperfect. In my book, that's a recipe for an all-time classic.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
As a remote-first company, we are invested in employees creating a work setup that allows them to do their best work. In addition to a laptop, we also provide you with $750 to get the additional equipment you need and add an ongoing amount of $1,200 to your salary to cover remote work costs.
We value ownership at Kyruus Health, not only in the work you do but in the shared financial success from our growth. Employees will have the opportunity to grow their equity ownership throughout their tenure.
We care about creating the time you need to bond for any team members at Kyruus Health growing their families. We offer 8 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents. Birthing parents are also eligible for additional time and coverage through our Short-Term Disability plan.
We encourage all employees to save for retirement through our 401(K) plan. Employees have the option to begin contributing to their accounts on their first day of employment and we offer an employer match of up to $1,500 per calendar year for all employees who enroll.
We offer employees a lifestyle stipend of $2,000 per year to help them be well. This is designed for Kyruus Health to offset the cost for items, experiences, or home expenses that enhance team members’ well-being
We want to provide employees and families with health insurance offerings to support them getting the care they need. Our health, dental, and vision plans are desiged to allow employees the opportunity to choose options that work best for themselves and their families.
We are committed to flexibility and empowering employees to do work that matters in a way that works for them. Our unlimited PTO policy is anchored on that flexibility – encouraging employees to take time off for what’s important to them, in addition to the many company holidays we celebrate. To highlight our commitment to a healthy work-life balance, we provide a specific stipend each quarter for employees to use on a recharge day.
