At this point everybody knows that the Golden State Warriors are a legitimate contender in the NBA. They are both the defending NBA champions and leading the league in the standings since the start of the season. However they are achieving a level of dominance that has not been seen in a very long time; 20 years to be exact. The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls finished their season with an unprecedented record of 72-10. That record has never come close to being touched, that is, until this year. The Warriors lead the Western Conference right now with a record of 65-7 with 10 games to go, meaning they have to go 7-3 in their last 10 to tie the record and 8-2 at the least to break the record. It will not be an easy task to achieve in these final 10 games with every team trying to prevent them from achieving the feat, but if we have learned anything, it’s that the Warriors don’t shy away from a challenge.
In their last 10 games, Golden State will face Philadelphia, Washington, Utah on the road, Boston, Portland, Minnesota, San Antonio at home and on the road, and Memphis at home and on the road. These eight teams are certainly no cake walk, as five are in the playoff picture and San Antonio is right behind them in the standings, having a terrific season on their own right. With the performance we have seen from Golden State beginning to end, there is no reason we should overlook them potentially making history. They have dominated the entire NBA all season, and that kind of dominance is not to be underestimated. They have tested their mettle, and show once again the determination that got them a championship last June.
Golden State has become the team that you will try to avoid a matchup with in the playoffs, but that’s not to suggest that every one of the eight teams they will play down the home stretch are doing anything other than salivating at the chance to put the Warriors date with history on ice. With so much done already, you have to believe that the Warriors are looking to go all in and break the record, and they will view anything less as a failure. However, aside from the record, they have to prove that they can beat an experienced team like San Antonio, who beat them in their last tilt. Overall, the Warriors have to stay focused on the task at hand, which is the NBA Championship. What can’t get lost in this record-chasing affair is how good of a team we have all had the privilege to watch, as this will go down as an incredible season regardless of whether they win it all. I mean, would we remember the ’96 Bulls if they didn’t win it all, or would they just be another team that choked?