The 2019-20 season was a disaster for the Golden State Warriors.
After going to the NBA Finals five straight seasons and capturing three titles before the 2019-20 campaign started, the Warriors had the worst record in the NBA before the coronavirus suspension. They were on their way to missing the playoffs for the first time in the Steve Kerr era.
In the midst of this terrible season for the Warriors, we decided to rank the five greatest Dubs teams in franchise history to remind Golden State fans of the elite teams they have supported and watched in the past.
With six championships in franchise history, the Warriors have plenty of clubs to choose from. It's also worth noting how so many great Warriors NBA Drafts provided the foundations for this great teams.
5. 1974-75 Warriors
Led by head coach Al Attles, the Warriors won 48 games during the regular season. The team's leading scorer was Rick Barry, who averaged 30.6 points per game. The Hall of Famer was a man on a mission that season to capture that elusive first ring of his career.
The Warriors defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games to begin the playoffs. Back then, they didn't have the first round of the playoffs in the NBA.
The Western Conference Finals saw the Warriors take out the Chicago Bulls in seven games. Yes, the Bulls used to be in the Western Conference.
Golden State swept the Washington Bullets in the 1975 Finals, with none other than Barry winning Finals MVP.
4. 2014-15 Warriors
In Kerr's first year as head coach, the Warriors won 67 games during the regular season and secured the best record in the NBA.
Stephen Curry won his first MVP award and was just beginning his dominance in the league. The former Davidson star averaged 23.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists.
The Warriors swept Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the 2015 playoffs. The Dubs then fell 2-1 to the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round before winning three straight to advance to the conference finals.
The 2015 Western Conference Finals was pretty one-sided. The Dubs defeated James Harden, Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets in five games.
The 2015 NBA Finals featured the Warriors taking on LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron played Games 2-6 without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Irving hurt his knee in Game 1 of the Finals, while Love dislocated his shoulder earlier in the postseason against the Boston Celtics.
James and the Cavs took a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4. That's when the Warriors just came out and demolished the Cavs, winning by a final score of 103-82.
The Dubs won Games 5 and 6 as well and captured the first title of the Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green era. Andre Iguodala won Finals MVP.
3. 2017-18 Warriors
Kevin Durant's second season with the Warriors netted the Dubs their third title in four years. Durant won his second straight Finals MVP.
The Warriors won 58 games during the regular season. Harden won MVP and the Rockets took a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 at Oracle Arena in the conference finals.
However, without Chris Paul, the Rockets couldn't finish the Warriors off. Golden State won the next two games to advance to the Finals.
The Dubs easily swept LeBron and the Cavs in the 2018 Finals. Game 1 was close and James had one of the greatest games in NBA Finals history, but J.R. Smith's blunder allowed the game to go into overtime and the Warriors never looked back.
2. 2015-16 Warriors
The record-breaking 73-9 team would be number one on our list if they were able to finish the season off with a ring.
The Warriors started off this season an incredible 24-0. Luke Walton served as interim head coach from October to January while Kerr recovered from back surgery. Walton led Golden State to a 39-4 record.
Curry won his second straight MVP award, this time in unanimous fashion. Steph averaged 30.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists.
The Warriors defeated the Rockets in the first round in five quick games, but Curry suffered an MCL sprain in Houston. Golden State was able to weather the storm with their depth. Curry came back in the second round against the Blazers. The Dubs won that series in five games as well.
The 2016 Western Conference Finals changed NBA history. Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder had a 3-1 lead in the series.
However, KD and the Thunder choked, while Thompson went off in Game 6 in OKC to keep the Warriors alive.
Golden State won Game 7 at home. The picture of Curry hugging Durant after the series ended is iconic since Durant joined Steph and the Warriors.
The Dubs took a 3-1 series lead against LeBron and the Cavs in the 2016 Finals. No team in NBA history had ever overcome that type of deficit. Everyone in the NBA assumed the series was over.
However, LeBron and Kyrie both turned into Superman and the Cavs were able to tie the series up at three games apiece by winning Games 5 and 6.
Game 7 is one of the best games in NBA history, but the Dubs ended on the wrong side of it. LeBron and the Cavs pulled off the comeback and the Warriors' 73-9 season was ruined with Cleveland hoisting up the trophy.
1. 2016-17 Warriors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hos-uitIYF4
Green recruited Durant to the Warriors right after the Dubs lost to the Cavs in the 2016 Finals. Curry, Thompson, Green and Iguodala met with Durant in the Hamptons during the 2016 free agency period, and thus the “Hamptons 5” was born.
The Warriors won 67 games this season. Durant suffered a knee injury against the Washington Wizards, but came back for the postseason. Golden State swept the Blazers in the first round, swept the Utah Jazz in the second round and swept the San Antonio Spurs in the conference finals.
Durant won his first Finals MVP by outplaying LeBron in the 2017 Finals. The Warriors won the title and redeemed themselves from the 2016 Finals blunder.
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