5 reasons the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors are the greatest team of all time
2. Three-year reign
The larger picture matters here too. While this is not a discussion of the greatest three-year window in NBA history, Golden State’s dominance since Steve Kerr took over at the helm has been unparalleled — even when factoring in their defeat in the 2016 NBA Finals.
Over the last three seasons, the Warriors have the best record (including the regular season and the playoffs) over any three-year stretch in NBA history at 254-54 (.825). They’ve won two titles in that stretch, and if not for a Draymond Green Game 5 suspension, LeBron James entering God mode, Harrison Barnes falling apart or Andrew Bogut‘s series-ending injury, they’d probably have three.
The Dubs came as close to a championship in 2016 as any team has come without actually winning it, and in order to properly put their 2016-17 season into context, that three-year window featuring a 73-win season to somewhat make up for losing the title matters.
Golden State Warriors over last 3 years: 254-54 (including first ever 73-win season & 16-1 playoff), 2 championships. Best team of all-time
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) June 13, 2017
This is not to say the Warriors should be considered the G.O.A.T. team because they’ve been historically great for three straight years, because you could argue any team that three-peated in NBA history had a better three-year stretch.
But this season was the culmination (up to this point) of that incredible run, featuring the most well-rounded dominance we’ve seen from any team. It combined the regular season success of 2015-16 with the playoff success of 2014-15, somehow upgrading from Harrison Barnes to Kevin-freaking-Durant in the process.
Stephen Curry with a message for the rest of the NBA: "We're just getting started."
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 13, 2017
Coming back from the heartbreak of a 73-win season ending in ruin matters. Doing so in such authoritative fashion matters as well.
This season represents the beginning of an all-time great NBA dynasty (as if it hadn’t already begun in 2015). While many other teams could claim the same, we may very well look back on the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors as the beginning of the end for so many other contenders, igniting a reign of terror that lasts half a decade.