The Golden State Warriors, coached by Steve Kerr, the ex-Chicago Bulls player whose team finished the regular season with an NBA-record 72-10 in the 1995-1996 season, has the chance to make basketball history again. If the Stephen Curry-led Warriors win one series against Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2015 NBA Finals, the California team can finish the season with the NBA's all-time third-best league record in history.
Game 1 of the NBA playoff championship starts Thursday night 9:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
The Warriors racked up a franchise record 67 wins during the regular season. It then went 12-3 in the NBA playoffs.
If the Warriors win the 2015 NBA Finals, they will finish the season with the third-best record ever. The team would follow only the 1995-1996 Bulls (87 wins), and the 1996-1997 Bulls (84 wins), in terms of regular and postseason wins.
This will be the Golden State Warrriors' first trip to the NBA finals since 1975. NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry led the squad to the championship series four decades ago.
Golden State is only the 14th team to win 65 or more regular season games. The previous 13 teams interestingly won the NBA championship.
Kerr played for the top-two Chicago squads. He has observed that the Warriors also include a solid defense, and perfectly-timed shots.
Robert Horry was a seven-time NBA champion with the Rockets, Lakers, and Spurs during his pro basketball career. He noted that the five strengths of those champion squads also included: teamwork, shooting, defense, health, and luck, according to India Times.
Kevin McHale, three-time Boston Celtics NBA champion, said that home court advantage was a key to the Warriors' dream season. They were 39-2 at Oracle Arena during the regular season, and 7-1 at home during the NBA playoffs. McHale's team went 50-1 in the 1995-1996 season.
Golden State has made short work of opponents since Kerr became head coach before the 2014-2015 NBA season. It led the league in shooting percentage, assists, and average scoring margin.
The Warriors then enjoyed a cake walk during the Western Conference NBA playoff series. It eliminated the Pelicans, Grizzlies, and Rockets, according to NJ.