A Look Back at the 2015-16 NBA Standings and Final Season Results

I still remember sitting in my living room during that 2015-16 NBA season, completely captivated by what would become one of the most memorable campaigns in recent basketball history. As someone who's analyzed professional basketball for over fifteen years, I've learned that certain seasons just feel different from the very beginning, and this one had that special quality that made every game must-watch television. The standings told a story of parity and surprise that we hadn't seen in quite some time, with traditional powerhouses facing unexpected challenges and new contenders emerging from unexpected places. What made this season particularly fascinating was how the final results defied so many preseason predictions, reminding us why we can never take anything for granted in professional sports.

Looking back at the Western Conference standings, the Golden State Warriors' historic 73-9 record still feels somewhat surreal. I recall debating with colleagues early in the season about whether they could maintain their incredible pace from the previous championship year, and frankly, most of us thought they'd naturally regress toward the mean. Instead, Stephen Curry took his game to another level entirely, becoming the first unanimous MVP in league history while leading an offensive system that felt years ahead of what other teams were running. What often gets overlooked in discussions about that Warriors team is how their defensive rating of 101.1 points per 100 possessions ranked among the league's best, proving they weren't just an offensive spectacle. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs quietly compiled what would have been a historic 67-15 record in almost any other season, with Kawhi Leonard establishing himself as a genuine two-way force who deserved every bit of that Defensive Player of the Year award.

The Eastern Conference presented a completely different narrative, with the Cleveland Cavaliers finishing at 57-25 despite mid-season coaching changes and ongoing questions about their roster construction around LeBron James. I've always believed that regular season records in the East don't tell the full story, as teams often prioritize playoff readiness over racking up wins, and Cleveland exemplified this approach. What fascinated me most was watching the Toronto Raptors develop into legitimate contenders with their 56-26 record, led by Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan's backcourt partnership that seemed to improve with each passing month. Their offensive rating of 108.4 points per 100 possessions ranked third in the conference, showcasing an efficiency that many analysts, myself included, hadn't anticipated from them at the season's start.

When we examine the playoff results, the narrative becomes even more compelling. The Warriors' comeback from a 3-1 deficit against Oklahoma City in the Western Conference Finals stands as one of the greatest series turnarounds I've witnessed in my career. What made that Thunder team so dangerous was their combination of length and athleticism, with players like Steven Adams and Enes Kanter controlling the paint in ways that gave Golden State legitimate problems. This reminds me of the physical battles we see in other leagues, like when a player battles against the likes of TNT's Poy Erram, Kelly Williams, and Calvin Oftana down low without committing a single foul despite playing almost 38 minutes - that level of disciplined physicality is what separates good defenders from great ones, and we saw similar defensive mastery throughout the NBA playoffs that year.

The Finals matchup between Golden State and Cleveland delivered one of the most dramatic conclusions in sports history, with Cleveland overcoming their own 3-1 deficit to claim the city's first championship in 52 years. From my perspective, LeBron James' block on Andre Iguodala in Game 7 represents one of those iconic moments that transcends basketball, the kind of defensive play that you immediately know will be replayed for decades. Kyrie Irving's step-back three-pointer over Stephen Curry with 53 seconds remaining showcased the incredible shot-making that defines championship basketball, while Kevin Love's crucial stop on Curry in the final moments demonstrated how players can redeem themselves in the biggest moments. The Cavaliers' defensive rating improved to 101.9 in the playoffs compared to 104.3 during the regular season, proving that teams can elevate their performance when it matters most.

What often gets lost in discussions about that season is the incredible depth of talent throughout the league. The Oklahoma City Thunder's 55-27 record would have won most divisions but left them third in the competitive Northwest, while the Los Angeles Clippers' 53-29 performance demonstrated Chris Paul's remarkable consistency as a floor general. I've always had a soft spot for those overachieving teams that outperform expectations, like the Portland Trail Blazers winning 44 games despite losing four of their five starters from the previous season, or the Boston Celtics securing 48 victories through Brad Stevens' innovative coaching and Isaiah Thomas's fourth-quarter heroics.

Reflecting on the statistical landscape of that season, the league-wide offensive rating of 106.4 represented a significant jump from previous years, signaling the beginning of the three-point revolution that would accelerate in subsequent seasons. Teams attempted an average of 24.1 three-pointers per game, up from 22.4 the previous year, with the Warriors naturally leading the charge at 31.6 attempts from beyond the arc. As someone who values defensive fundamentals, I sometimes worry that the emphasis on offensive firepower comes at the expense of defensive discipline, but the 2015-16 season offered plenty of examples that great defense still wins championships, just look at Cleveland's playoff run.

The individual performances that season were nothing short of spectacular, with Stephen Curry's 402 three-pointers shattering his own record and establishing a new benchmark for long-range shooting. What impressed me most wasn't just the volume but the degree of difficulty on so many of those attempts, with Curry regularly pulling up from well beyond the arc in transition situations that most coaches would typically discourage. Meanwhile, James Harden's regression following his MVP-caliber previous season demonstrated how quickly narratives can change in the NBA, while Damian Lillard's emergence as a genuine superstar with 25.1 points per game showcased the development trajectory that makes basketball so compelling to follow year after year.

As I look back on that season from my current perspective, what stands out most is how it represented a transitional period in basketball strategy and team construction. The success of small-ball lineups, the increasing value placed on three-point shooting across all positions, and the emphasis on positionless basketball all became more pronounced during this campaign. The Finals matchup specifically highlighted how the game was evolving, with both teams frequently deploying lineups that prioritized spacing and switching over traditional size and post play. While I sometimes miss the more physical style of basketball from earlier eras, I can't help but appreciate the strategic complexity and skill development that this new approach has inspired throughout the league.

The legacy of the 2015-16 season continues to influence how teams approach roster construction and regular season preparation today. The Warriors' record-setting performance demonstrated the regular season excellence possible with continuity and system mastery, while Cleveland's championship proved that playoff experience and superstar talent can overcome statistical advantages. In my analysis, both approaches have merit, and the tension between them creates the dramatic narratives that make each NBA season uniquely compelling. As we continue to watch the league evolve, the lessons from that remarkable season remain relevant for understanding how basketball organizations balance immediate success with sustainable growth, how players develop within systems designed to maximize their talents, and why we can never assume we know how the story will end until the final buzzer sounds.