The Golden State Warriors are often compared to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. They have already broken the regular season record, but will they stay under 25 defeats, which was the highest mark for Jordan in regular.
Michael Jordan is the best player ever to play the game. The Golden State Warriors have been named the best team to ever play the game on several accounts.
It is completely impossible to compare the two teams and their eras, but it is very possible to look at winning and losing.
In 2015-16, the Warriors shattered the Bulls record with their dominant regular season. 73 wins and 9 losses. One game better than Jordans legendary season in 1995-96. That news of their dominance was spread everyone, claiming their nine-loss team as the best of all time.
But this season could change the Warriors legacy significantly. They are only 36 games in – less than half the regular season – and defeats are piling up for Golden State.
In Michael Jordan’s six successful years as champion, the Chicago Bulls never had more than 25 defeats in a regular season.
Chicago Bulls winning seasons
1990-91 61-21
1991-92 67-15
1992-93 57-25
1995-96 72-10
1996-97 69-13
1997-98 62-20
We’re not even half way through regular now, and Golden State already have 13 defeats. And it has not only been defeats against top contenders. Warriors have lost to Clippers, Mavericks and Pistons.
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And they still have a long way to go.
Here is a list of playoff top contenders, the Warriors still need to face during this season
· Houston Rockets 3 times
· Denver Nuggets 3 times
· Los Angeles Lakers 3 times
· Boston Celtics 2 times
· Oklahoma 1 time
· Philadelphia 76’ers 1 time
Golden State could easily pass 25 defeats this year and be historically worse than MJ and the Bulls ever were in a championship season.
But will this matter to Warriors mentality? Or are they merely balling to stay awake? Last year 24 games were lost before the Dubs flicked the switch.
24 losses are the most a Steph Curry-Warriors team has experienced as a championship team. The number seems high for the most potent offense of all times, but the franchise isn’t used to these stats. Only one time before the Curry era have Golden State as an NBA team gotten under 24 defeats.
In the season 1975-76 – the year after the 3rd championship – they went 59-23.
Going beyond 25 defeats this year won’t be a disaster. Getting beat by MJ in a potential Championship season won’t matter a great deal. The Warriors are chasing rings, not regular season stats.
But secretly the historically competitive MJ will be happy if Warriors trip on this one.