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3. 2016 Golden State Warriors
Regular season record: 73-9
Playoff record: 15-9
This Golden State Warriors team remains the greatest regular-season team in league history with a historic 73-9 record. Stephen Curry became the first and only unanimous MVP awardee so far and he was leading America’s team to what would have been a dream season.
With Splash Brother Klay Thompson in tow and Draymond Green anchoring the defense with aplomb, the Warriors obliterated opponents left and right. They went 3-1 up in the Finals, but LeBron James and his Cavaliers stormed back into the series to win the title in epic fashion.
LeBron James had All-Star Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to back him up, but if the Warriors hadn’t forgotten how to play together in the final three games of the series, this would have ended with a championship by Golden State.
2. 2018 Golden State Warriors
Regular season record: 58-24
Playoff record: 16-5
The 2018 version of the Golden State Warriors wasn’t as dominant as the previous year’s version. Much of it was due to a few injuries, a bit of complacency, and a bit of a lack of cohesion on the court.
In the playoffs, the Warriors found their groove, but not without nearly succumbing to James Harden and Chris Paul’s Houston Rockets in the postseason. If not for a hamstring injury that prevented Paul from playing the final two games of the Western Conference Finals, LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers would have faced the Rockets.
A Rockets-Cavs Finals would have given LeBron James a better shot at winning a championship as individual matchups would have been more favorable for Cleveland than when they faced the Warriors.
LeBron James matched up well against Kevin Durant, but without Irving, who demanded a trade in the offseason, the lack of firepower from the Cavs spelled their doom and they got swept easily.
1. 2017 Golden State Warriors
Regular season record: 67-15
Playoff record: 16-1
In Durant’s first season in a Warriors uniform, Golden State played like a well-oiled machine. They may not have dominated the competition like they did the year before, but they had four players who were among the best, if not the best, at their positions.
KD showed why he was the ultimate plug-and-play baller as he fit in seamlessly with the Warriors. Not only did they own the best regular season record in the league, but they were also first in offensive rating and second in defensive rating.
They had a near-perfect record in the playoffs with their lone loss coming against LeBron James’ defending champion Cavaliers. Behind Irving’s 40-point explosion and James’ triple-double performance of 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, the Cavs defeated the Warriors 137-116 in Game 4.
Other than that one blemish, the 2017 Warriors were practically flawless as LeBron James succumbed to one of the greatest teams in NBA history.
Guess the Lakers players!
