Golden State (49-9) won an NBA-record 73 games in 2016 and then added a fourth All-star in Kevin Durant. You had to assume that the team wouldnt get any worse, but 73 wins in an 82-game season seemed unlikely to occur in back-to-back seasons.
They actually have an outside shot of tying the record if they can run off the final 24 games on the schedule without a loss. That would be something.
Regardless, this Golden State team has already blasted their way into the record books after beating the lowly Brooklyn Nets 112-95 on Saturday night at Oracle Arena and clinching a playoff spot. The win marked the earliest playoff clinch in NBA history, breaking the record set by last years Dub Nation squad,
With the ninth-place Sacramento Kings at 25-34 and 24 1/2 games back entering Sunday nights NBA action, the Warriors are mathematically assured of a top-eight finish in the Western Conference.
Everyone knew that Golden State would be using the regular season to work Durant in, develop championship chemistry and then get ready to avenge last seasons gut-wrenching loss to Cleveland in which Dub Nation had an historic meltdown, blowing a 3-1 lead. Theyve had nightmares about that series since last year and the way they have blown through the 2016-17 regular season, an NBA finals return seems like almost a given.
With all due respect to the Rockets and Spurs and other potent Western Conference Teams, Golden State hasn’t broken a sweat yet this season.
