Fansided

The best NBA playoff team of all-time at every seed

By Ian Levy

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) James Harden #13, Kevin Durant #35 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder stand on the court during the game against the Orlando Magic on February 25, 2011 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) James Harden #13, Kevin Durant #35 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder stand on the court during the game against the Orlando Magic on February 25, 2011 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 8
Next
Warriors
CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 16: Draymond Green #23, Stephen Curry #30 and Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate against the Golden State Warriors in Game Six of the 2015 NBA Finals on June 16, 2016 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The best No. 1 seed ever: Golden State Warriors, 2015-16

You can argue for the 1996 or 1997 Bulls here if you want, both of whom had Michael Jordan and a better SRS. You could argue for the Bucks or Lakers of the early 1970s who also had better SRS marks. Heck, you could even argue that the 2016-17 version of the Warriors with Kevin Durant in the fold had a higher ceiling. You’d be wrong though.

dark. Next. Stating the case for every MVP candidate

No NBA team has ever won more than the 73 games the Warriors managed this season. No player has ever scored at high volume more efficiently than Stephen Curry did this season. Yes, the Warriors lost their last game to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Yes, they may have been more inevitable with Durant. But this was the fully realized version of the Warriors underlying principles. This was the team that reshaped the entire league. This is the No. 1 seed that carried more weight than any who has come before it or since.

Home/NBA Playoffs