Now everybody can shut up.
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The Golden State Warriors needed just one more win to stand alone at the top of the National Basketball Association record books with the most wins in history in a single regular season.
On Sunday, the Warriors did two things that have not happened in almost two decades.
The Warriors won their final four games, including two against the 67-15 San Antonio Spurs, to set the record.
Was it a pretty win? The Warriors were held to just 14 points in the quarter, their fewest in any game this season. For what it’s worth, with or without the second title, I’d take Curry at point guard over Isiah Thomas in less time than it takes Curry to launch from 35 feet, if for no other reason than Curry might someday shoot better from three-point land than Isiah did from the free-throw line. He finished the season with 402, going 10-of-19 from three-point range in the game. And while the Warriors have beaten the Grizzlies three times this season, including a 50-point shellacking in early November, Memphis had a chance to win at the buzzer when the two teams played last week. They have a champion’s maturity, the focus to close a series on the road, and the understanding that 73 victories in the regular season will mean nothing without 16 in the postseason. In the 2014-’15 league year, Curry made 286 three’s, while maintaining a 44 percent clip.
The Grizzlies also are barely breaking even with a 42-39 record on the year.
What will the critics say now? That should result in a blowout win for the Warriors, but a game three days ago may indicate otherwise. The game has changed so much over the years and whether the talent now is that much better than then is still a question on the minds of many. Draymond Green filled the stat sheet, registering 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes also scored in double-figures.
For now, the Warriors are the greatest regular-season team in history, and made it look easy the whole way.
Surprisingly, one person who may be pulling for the Dubs is Michael Jordan, who spearheaded the Bulls’ 72-10 record.
The playoffs start this weekend and the new magic number becomes sixteen – the number of wins needed to complete a dominant back-to-back championship run.
The Warriors’ Head Coach Steve Kerr who was on that Bulls team with Jordan. “If y’all don’t win this record, I’m going to be hot, and I’m blaming you'”.
Aussie Andrew Bogut admits he’s “not a huge numbers guy”, so isn’t getting too excited by the number 73. But he won’t be the only one coaching for the final time on their current teams in this season finale.
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“It’s a great way to finish off what was an fantastic regular season”, Kerr said.
