NBA comprises of two conferences: Eastern Conference and Western Conference. Each conference consist of 3 divisions with five teams per division. Thus in total 30 teams play against each other during the course of a regular season. The matchups of every single team over the season can be broken as:A team faces oponents in its own division 4 times a season (16 games)It faces 6 of the teams from other two divisions in its own conference 4 times a season (24 games)The remaining four teams in the conference are faced 3 times in a season (12 games)The 15 teams of the other conference are faced twice in a seasion (15 games)Therefore in a regular season, each team plays 82 games. Out of these 82 games, 41 are played on their respective home courts while the other 41 games are played away from home.At the end of the regular season, the top 8 teams from each conference, in terms of winning percentage all through the season, proceeds to the playoffs or the postseason.Let us get little deeper and look at the top ten teams with the best winning record in a single season (in the modern era of NBA).
#10 Milwaukee Bucks (1970-1971)
With a season best winning record of 66 game wins and 16 losses, the Milwaukee Bucks proceeded into the Eastern Conference Playoffs and ultimately win the NBA Finals.
The team lost five of its final six games of the season though.
The team was led by all-time great Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
#9 Dallas Mavericks (2006-2007)
This Dallas Mavericks team had a season best 67-15 winning record. It is the only team in the NBA to make three winning streaks of more then 11 games in a season.
It also went on to become the only team in NBA history to have an 80 percent plus winning record in the season and lose in the first round of the playoffs.
The team was led by Dirk Nowitzki.
#8 Los Angeles Lakers (1999-2000)
The LA Lakers won 67 games and proceeded to win the Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
It was the first NBA title for Kobe Bryant, who went on to win 5 more NBA Championships. It was also the first of three Championships won by Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal together.
This team was also coached by Phil Jackson, who had previously won 6 championships with the Chicago Bulls.
#7 Chicago Bulls (1991-1992)
Jordan led the team to a 67-15 regular season best and win the first of two back-to-back NBA championships for the Bulls franchise. It was one of the most dominating seasons of Jordan and he got exellent support from Horace Grant, Scottie Pippen, B.J. Armstrong, John Paxson and Bill Cartwright.
The team defeated the Portland Trailblazers in the NBA Finals.
#6 Boston Celtics (1985-1986)
This Boston Celtics team won a season best 67 games out of 82 and proceeded to the post-season to win the NBA Championship.
Larry Bird led the team with Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, Robert Parish and Bill Walton to defeat Houston in the finals.
#5 Boston Celtics (1972-1973)
The team went on to win the season-best 68 - 14 winning record, but ended up losing to the New York Knicks in the Conference Finals 3 - 4 in a best of seven series.
#4 Philadelphia 76ers (1966-1967)
With a 68-13 season, the Philadelphia 76ers went on to win the NBA Championship (It was an 81 game season).
The team was lead by Wilt Chimberlain, Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham and Chat Walker.
#3 Chicago Bulls (1996-1997)
Another great run by the Bulls team under head coach Phil Jackson, piling up 69 win games over the season. This team also proceeded to win their second back-to-back NBA Championship with the help of Jordan, Rodman and Pippen.
#2 Los Angeles Lakers (1971-1972)
This LA Lakers team went on to win 69 games that season and lost only 13 games. It is the same team that holds the record for the most consecutive wins in a season i.e. 33 games in a row.
Wilt Chimberlain, Jerry West, Happy Hairston, Gail Goodrich and Jim McMillian were the stars of the fantastic LA team that laid the foundation of the golden era of LA Lakers. This team also went on to win the NBA championship that year.
It also holds record for most consecutive road wins with 16 games.
#1 Chicago Bulls (1995-1996)
The Chicago Bulls team from 1995-96 went on to win 72 games in the regular season and lost just 10 games on their way to an NBA Championship.
This was the year of #23 Michael Jordan's comeback after a premature retirement, as he joined forces with Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen under the guidance of legendary Champion coach Phil Jackson.
