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There's still over a month left before the much-awaited 2017-18 NBA regular season commences when the uber talented Golden State Warriors begin their title defence for the second time in three years. The record-breaking rise of the Oakland-based franchise over the past few seasons has sparked debates as to their spot amongst the greatest teams of all-time.
Over a three year period, the Warriors have captured two titles, beat the Chicago Bulls' regular season record with a 73-win campaign and went 16-1 in the Playoffs en route to clinching their most recent championship.
However, to even be in the conversation for the greatest team of all time, a championship is a must. Therefore, the '73 ain't mean a thing, without a ring', holds true. So do any of the previous two Warriors' championship teams make the cut?
P.S: Yes.
#5 1988-89 Detroit Pistons
Record: 63-19
The 1988-89 roster of the 'Bad Boys' was one of the most feared, efficient and physical defences of the modern era. Although pillared around versatile wingman Dennis Rodman, the Pistons defence was a lot more than just him. Their backcourt of Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars took care of the perimeter while the inside was manned with ferocious intensity by the likes of John Salley and Bill Laimbeer.
Offensively, they were well taken care of by Thomas and Dumars, who went on to be named the Finals MVP that year. Apart from the duo, Mark Aguirre was a crucial piece who could put up points in a hurry.
They went 15-2 in the 1989 Playoffs and are one of only two teams in NBA history to have swept the defending champions en route to clinching an NBA title.
#4 1985-86 Boston Celtics
Record: 65-17
The Boston Celtics are the winningest franchise in NBA history and from their 17 championships, the team that clinched the 16th title in 1986 is considered to be one of their greatest. They were known to be one of the greatest passing teams ever.
Rebounding from a 1985 Finals' loss to the Lakers, the Celtics with the addition of a former MVP in Bill Walton marched to 65 wins in the 1985-86 regular season. Mind you, Walton was only the addition, the C's already had enough firepower in the likes of Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge and Dennis Johnson.
The Celtics defeated Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets in six games for the 1986 title. This team is also the proud owner of a still standing NBA best 40-1 (.976) home record that it shares with the 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs.
#3 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 65-17
'Showtime'
The 1986-87 was the finest year for the 1980's Los Angeles Lakers. A star-studded squad led by league MVP Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar charged into the Playoffs as the only team with 60 plus wins.
In the 1980s, not reaching the NBA Finals was considered a disappointment in Tinseltown. So in 1987, the Lakers were looking to make amends after coming up short in the 1986 Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets.
They blew past their Conference opponents - Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and Seattle Supersonics - with a 11-1 record. In the Finals, the Celtics put up a fight but with the help of their role players - James Worthy, Byron Scott, A.C. Green, Michael Cooper and Mychal Thompson - the Lakers were champions once again.
#2 2016-17 Golden State Warriors
Record: 67-15
Given the talent pool on their roster (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant), it was a no-brainer to put your money on the Golden State Warriors decimating their opponents and cruising to the 2017 NBA title. But on the court, the players still had to execute and make that a reality.
And they did that, no matter what adversity was thrown at them. First, it was adjusting to the addition of Durant to the team and in the second half of the season due to an injury to the former MVP, it was about adapting back to a playing style without him.
If the 67-win regular season wasn't enough dominance, the battle-tested Warriors marched to their title with a NBA-best 16-1 Playoff record, which included a comfortable 4-1 Finals victory over rivals the Cleveland Cavaliers.
#1 1995-96 Chicago Bulls
Record: 72-10
Their reign at the top was threatened for a brief period of time but when the 73-win 2015-16 Golden State Warriors came up short in the NBA Finals, it just made the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls that much greater.
Their 72 wins in the regular season didn't seem to catch up to them in the Playoffs like it did with the Warriors. The Bulls punched their ticket to the Finals by breezing past tough East opponents in the Miami Heat, New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic while dropping just one game.
In the Finals, they faced the dynamic duo of Shaun Kemp and Gary Payton with the Seattle Supersonics but they too proved no match, going down in six games.
Michael Jordan, who is arguably the greatest player of all-time, along with Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman were the focal points of the team's success on both ends of the floor. And like any other great team, this one too had great role players - Steve Kerr, Toni Kukoc and Ron Harper.
