I still remember watching that final regular season game against the Memphis Grizzlies like it was yesterday. The tension was palpable as Steph Curry dribbled out the clock at Oracle Arena, the roar of the crowd building to a crescendo that would mark the culmination of basketball history. The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors had just done what many considered impossible - they'd surpassed the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' legendary 72-10 record with an astonishing 73-9 finish. What made this achievement even more remarkable was how they managed it in today's era of heightened athleticism and more balanced competition across the league.
When I analyze what separated that Warriors team from other great squads in history, I keep coming back to their incredible discipline and conditioning. They played with such controlled aggression that rarely crossed into foul trouble. This reminds me of that fascinating detail from the knowledge base about a player logging nearly 38 minutes without committing a single foul while battling physical opponents like Poy Erram, Kelly Williams, and Calvin Oftana in the paint. That level of defensive intelligence and body control perfectly encapsulates what made the Warriors special. Draymond Green, in particular, mastered this art - he could defend all five positions aggressively yet smartly, often playing heavy minutes while avoiding cheap fouls that would force him to the bench.
The statistical dominance of that Warriors team still boggles my mind when I look back at the numbers. They started the season 24-0, which remains the best start in NBA history. Steph Curry became the first unanimous MVP after averaging 30.1 points per game while shooting an absurd 45.4% from three-point range on over 11 attempts per game. What often gets overlooked is their defensive rating of 101.1, which ranked fifth in the league that season. They weren't just an offensive juggernaut - they were complete. I've always believed their ability to maintain such defensive discipline while playing at breakneck offensive pace was their most underappreciated quality.
Their roster construction was nearly perfect when you break it down. The "Hamptons Five" lineup of Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Barnes, and Green outscored opponents by 24 points per 100 possessions. Their bench mob featuring Livingston, Barbosa, and Speights provided reliable scoring and veteran savvy. What I find most impressive is how they maintained focus through an 82-game grind where every opponent treated games against them like their personal NBA Finals. The pressure mounted with each victory, yet they kept delivering night after night.
There were several close calls that could have derailed their historic pursuit. I distinctly remember their April 1st game against the Celtics where they needed overtime to secure win number 68. Then there was the double-overtime thriller against the Thunder in February where Klay Thompson's defensive versatility was on full display as he guarded multiple positions without fouling in crucial moments - reminiscent of that knowledge base example of disciplined defense. That game featured Curry's iconic 38-foot game-winner in overtime, which I still consider the greatest regular season shot I've ever witnessed.
The San Antonio Spurs deserve mention in this conversation too - they finished with 67 wins themselves, creating what I believe was the greatest two-team race in regular season history. Kawhi Leonard was phenomenal that season, and Gregg Popovich managed minutes and rotations with his typical genius. Yet even their incredible campaign was overshadowed by Golden State's pursuit of history. The Western Conference that year was absolutely stacked, making the Warriors' consistency even more impressive.
When they finally secured record-breaking win number 73 against Memphis, the basketball world celebrated what felt like an unbreakable achievement. Though the storybook ending didn't materialize in the playoffs, that doesn't diminish what they accomplished over those six months. The discipline required to maintain that level of excellence - much like playing 38 foul-free minutes against physical bigs - represents basketball execution at its highest level. Today, as we see teams increasingly load-managing stars, I wonder if we'll ever witness another team even approach this record. The combination of health, consistency, and historic shooting seems almost impossible to replicate. That Warriors team wasn't just great - they revolutionized how basketball is played while setting a benchmark that might stand for generations.
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