This Wednesday, April 13th at 10:30 P.M on ESPN, the Warriors have a chance at making history being the only team to win 73 games in a 82 game season in the NBA. And they most likely are, but does this achievement really mean anything at the moment for them? In this article I will discuss how the record can help them, or deteriorate them and how significant the record really is.
Let's be honest, most below average NBA fans probably never even heard of the 1995-96 Bulls and the astonishing regular season record they set which seemed to stand the test of time, yet it probably won't. Now let me be very clear, I root for the Warriors and want them to succeed, but the 73 win record doesn't mean anything if they don't win a championship this year.
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| Critics say that the Warriors play in a "softer" era than the 1995-96 Bulls |
The greatest teams, undoubtedly, are measured by the number of titles they bear on the rafters of their respective gymnasium. When one thinks of the greatest franchises in NBA history they think of the Celtics, Lakers, Bulls, but the Warriors? I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but the Warriors will have nothing to show if they don't win the championship, even though they are favored, but a magnificent regular season record.
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| The Boston Celtics have an NBA record 17 NBA Championships |
They have all the pieces to defend their title this year as well, with a much improved Draymond Green and Steph Curry, and they are heavy favorites. All the legends talk trash about them because of the current era the Warriors are apart of, yet that is not in Warriors' hands and this team has changed the game of basketball. The record, in my eyes, will stand for a long time and the Warriors can cherish it every year that it is still on top and for my first point, I think that the way the record can help them is with momentum.
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| Many say Steph Curry is already the best shooter in NBA history and is most likely going to win the MVP award this year |
With the playoffs right around the corner, the Warriors posses the confidence that they can demolish any team, which they have showed, and I believe this could be big for them. While others argue that the chase for the record has worn them out, I believe that it has just energized them even more. Now that they know that they have dipped waters with some of the greatest teams in sports history, they just need to continue what they have been doing and the championship trophy will come back to Oakland, right?
Or will the record be a detriment to the team come postseason. Another scenario I believe could be playing out in the Dubs' minds is the expectation to live up to the record. The Bulls of 1995-96 did it and this fact that they have to win a championship now could put more pressure on them then necessary. Many people factor in how coach Steve Kerr never rests his players, unlike Spurs coach Gregg Popavich in pursuit of the record, but I think this is highly irrelevant.
The Spurs almost have to rest their players by default because most are getting very old and are more injury prone. With that said, they made it quite evident in the throughout the year that they were not striving for the record and were just preparing for the playoffs. While this is a good strategy, I think that trying to attain the 72-10 Bulls record is a once in a lifetime opportunity and serves as good confidence going into the future.
In conclusion, my final verdict is that reaching the record will help the Warriors tremendously and they will go on ahead and be back-to-back NBA Champions. Just to know in the back of your minds that you are the best team in the NBA can keep you going thorough tough times during the playoffs. Yet a good case can be made that the mental pressures of living up to the record can be too much for one to bear. Please read another one of my articles, Bold Prediction: The Warriors Won't Make It To The NBA Finals, to see my thoughts on a possible scenario of the leagues best team not even making the Finals.
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