What could have been: Chronicling the Warriors near-perfect 2015-16 season
So close, yet so far.
www.khou.comDirect answer: The latest public overviews focus on the Warriors’ 2015-16 season, famous for their 73-win regular season and the subsequent NBA Finals collapse to the Cavaliers. Recent retrospectives tend to frame it as both historical peak and “what could have been” due to injuries and a 3–1 Finals deficit.[1][3][9]
Overview
- Historic regular season: The 2015–16 Warriors posted a 73–9 record, the best in NBA history, surpassing the 1995–96 Bulls’ 72–10 mark in the modern era. media recaps emphasize the unprecedented start and record-tying or record-breaking performances across Curry, Thompson, and Green.[3]
- Playoff run and Finals: They reached the Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers after surviving a 3–1 series deficit in the West Finals against Oklahoma City. In the NBA Finals, the Warriors led 3–1 but were unable to close out, with the Cavaliers rallying to win the series 4–3.[1][3]
- Legacy and context: Analyses often discuss the near-perfect season’s paradox—unmatched regular-season success but ultimate championship disappointment—along with Curry’s MVP-level impact and the team’s style of play becoming a defining basketball chapter.[2][3]
Key figures and milestones
- Stephen Curry: Led the team with historic scoring and scoring rate; earned All-NBA honors along with teammates during that season stretch.[3]
- Klay Thompson and Draymond Green: Integral in the era-defining “Splash Brothers” offense and elite defense; both earned postseason recognition.[3]
- The narrative around injuries: Curry’s injured stretches and the team’s heavy workload in the postseason contributed to questions about durability and depth in a long playoff grind.[1]
What to read for latest coverage
- NBA.com’s Season Review for context and takeaways from the 2015–16 season in a historical lens.[8]
- Wikipedia/Wikiwand pages summarize game-by-game highlights, records, and the playoff run, offering a consolidated timeline of the season’s arc.[1][3]
Illustration
- If you’d like, I can generate a concise timeline graphic showing: start 24-0, 73-win record milestone, Western Conference Finals comeback, and Finals 3–1 collapse. I can pull data points and produce a PNG chart comparing regular-season wins by month and playoff progress.
Would you like me to fetch a fresh, succinct timeline or create a visual summary (PNG) of the 2015–16 season with key milestones? I can also provide a short annotated reading list of reliable sources.