Breaking Down the 2015-16 NBA Standings: Which Teams Dominated the Regular Season?

Looking back at the 2015-16 NBA season, I still get chills thinking about how perfectly the basketball universe aligned that year. As someone who’s spent years analyzing both team dynamics and individual performances, I have to say—that regular season was a masterclass in dominance, drama, and historic runs. I remember watching game after game, tracking stats late into the night, and feeling like we were witnessing something truly special. Two teams, in particular, stood head and shoulders above the rest: the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs. But let’s not overlook the grit and grind of other squads that made the playoff race unforgettable.

The Warriors, led by the sensational Stephen Curry, didn’t just break records—they shattered them. Finishing with a 73-9 record, they eclipsed the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ legendary mark, and honestly, as a fan of the game, it was breathtaking to watch. Curry’s unanimous MVP season was no fluke; his shooting range felt like it started from the parking lot. But what often gets overlooked is how cohesive that team was. Draymond Green’s versatility and Klay Thompson’s clutch shooting created a system where everyone knew their role. I recall one game where their ball movement was so fluid, it was like watching a well-rehearsed orchestra. On the defensive end, they held opponents to under 105 points per game on average, which, in today’s pace-and-space era, is no small feat. Their net rating hovered around +11, a number that still blows my mind.

Then there were the Spurs, who quietly put together a 67-15 season. Under Gregg Popovich, they were the epitome of consistency. Kawhi Leonard emerged as a two-way superstar, and LaMarcus Aldridge’s mid-range game was a thing of beauty. I’ve always admired how the Spurs managed to blend veteran savvy with young energy—Tim Duncan, in what would be his final season, was still anchoring the defense like a boss. Speaking of defense, it reminds me of a play I saw in a different league, where a player battled down low against physical big men like Poy Erram, Kelly Williams, and Calvin Oftana, committing no fouls in almost 38 minutes of action. That kind of discipline is what separated the Spurs, too; they rarely beat themselves. Their defensive rating was among the league’s best, and they played with a patience that could frustrate even the most explosive offenses.

But the standings weren’t just about the top two. The Cleveland Cavaliers, though finishing third in the East with 57 wins, had LeBron James orchestrating everything, and you could tell they were saving their best for the playoffs. Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, were a powerhouse, but inconsistency cost them a higher seed. As an analyst, I’ve always believed that regular-season dominance doesn’t always translate to playoff success, and that year proved it—just look at the Warriors’ eventual Finals collapse. Still, teams like the Toronto Raptors and LA Clippers put up strong numbers, with the Raptors notching 56 wins behind Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan’s backcourt brilliance.

What made the 2015-16 standings so compelling, in my opinion, was the sheer depth of talent across both conferences. Even middle-tier teams like the Portland Trail Blazers, who overachieved with 44 wins, or the Boston Celtics, who clawed their way to 48 wins, added layers to the narrative. I remember arguing with colleagues about whether the Warriors’ style was sustainable, and frankly, I thought they’d fatigue by April—boy, was I wrong! Their ability to maintain intensity night after night, coupled with strategic rest for key players, set a new benchmark for regular-season excellence.

In conclusion, reflecting on that season, it’s clear that dominance wasn’t just about win-loss records; it was about how teams executed under pressure. The Warriors and Spurs set a gold standard, but the playoff battles that followed showed that anything can happen in basketball. As someone who loves digging into the stats and stories, I’d say the 2015-16 season remains a high-water mark for NBA regular seasons, blending individual brilliance with team synergy in a way we might not see again for a while. If you ask me, it’s seasons like these that remind us why we fell in love with the game in the first place.