What is the Greatest NBA team of all time?
Determining the greatest NBA team of all time? Now that’s a debate that can spark some serious passion among fans! Whether you're a die-hard supporter, a stats geek, or just someone with fond memories of watching the game, everyone has an opinion.
But what if we mixed all the perspectives together? That's exactly what we're aiming to do in this blog. We’re rolling up our sleeves and digging into the numbers to find out which NBA team truly deserves the title of "greatest of all time." We'll look at the legendary dynasties of the past and the powerhouse teams of today, breaking down the data to settle this age-old debate once and for all.
So, whether you're a fan of the Showtime Lakers, the unstoppable Bulls, or the dominant Warriors, come along for the ride. Let’s dive into the stats, reminisce about the glory days, and have some fun figuring out which team really is the GOAT.
To do this correctly, I looked at a bunch of factors that would signify dominance. Let's dive into each one. Furthermore, I am only looking at teams post the 1976 NBA-ABA merger, because you cannot be the best team if the talent pool is split. Also, to qualify for this list, you have to be a champion.
Greatest NBA Team of All-Time
SOS
SOS, or strength of schedule, is like the ultimate test of a team’s journey through the season. It tells you just how tough or easy their path was compared to the average schedule. Imagine going through a season and facing off against the top teams all the time – that’s what a high SOS means. It’s calculated by adding up the winning percentages of every team they played and then subtracting from 0.5, which represents an average record (41 wins and 41 losses). So, the higher the SOS number, the rougher the ride.
Now, let’s dive into the 10 highest SOS values of championship teams. These squads didn’t just win – they conquered the toughest roads to glory. Check it out!
This table really shows just how tough the Western Conference has been lately. Seven out of these ten teams are from the West (Lakers, Spurs, Mavericks, Rockets), highlighting the brutal path to the finals. It's interesting to note that when people talk about the greatest teams ever, these names don’t usually come up. That’s because a tougher road often means less regular-season dominance. The West is like a gauntlet, and surviving it is an accomplishment in itself, even if it doesn't always show up in the regular season stats.
Simple Rating System
The SRS, or Simple Rating System, is a cool way to gauge just how good an NBA team is. It looks at the average point differential and the strength of their schedule. Think of it as a scorecard where zero is average, and anything higher means the team is above average—higher is always better. Here are the Top 10 SRS values of NBA champions, showcasing the teams that truly dominated their seasons.
Net Rating
Net Rating is a fascinating way to measure a team's dominance in each game. Basically, it tells us how well a team performs by comparing their offensive and defensive prowess. You get it by subtracting the points a team allows per 100 possessions from the points they score per 100 possessions.
Let's break it down with an example: if a team scored 98 points in 85 possessions, their offensive rating for that game would be 115. This metric is super valuable because it lets us compare teams from different eras, something you can't really do with just points per game. After all, today's NBA offenses are on another level! Here are the top 10 teams by net rating.
To make the cut as one of the greatest NBA teams of all time, you need to either dominate with a killer offense or defense or be solid on both fronts. Every team on this list boasted at least one player on the All-Defense team, backed by an offense that could make history.
Take the Bulls, for instance. They had Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen leading the charge through their dynasty years. The Warriors? They lit up the scoreboard with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant in 2017, while Draymond Green held it down on defense. The Spurs were a well-oiled machine with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker excelling on both ends of the court. Then there’s the 1986 Celtics with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, and the 2008 Celtics powered by Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Fast forward to the '24 Celtics, and you’ve got Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum forming an unstoppable squad.
You don’t achieve historic net ratings without stacking your roster with top-tier talent. These teams were loaded, and it’s that almost unfair level of talent that made them legendary.
Regular Season Win %
There's not much to talk about this stat. What percent of your regular season games did you win?
Playoff Win %
Playoff SRS
Ever wondered what makes a championship run truly legendary? It’s not just about the glitz and glory; it’s about the challenges overcome. Take a peek behind the scenes with playoff SRS (Simple Rating System) – a cool stat that sums up the strength of the teams a champion faces on their journey to glory.
The 2024 Boston Celtics’ playoff SRS wasn’t just about their own hustle. It’s the combined regular-season strength of teams like the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, and Dallas Mavericks that adds up to their playoff story. So, when we talk about a tough playoff schedule, we’re giving props where they’re due – because navigating through a stacked lineup of opponents always elevates the championship ring.
The 2011 Dallas Mavericks title run is etched in history not just for the ring, but for the hoops they had to jump through. Facing off against some of the league’s finest talents and toughest teams made their triumph all the sweeter. It’s moments like these that remind us: behind every championship banner, there’s a journey of guts, grit, and a whole lot of basketball magic.
So after combining all the points awarded to each team, what is the final answer?
The greatest team of all time is the 1997 Chicago Bulls!!!
You know, it's funny how the '97 Bulls often get overlooked in these "greatest team of all time" discussions. Everyone's all about the '96 Bulls and the '17 Warriors, but hey, let's not forget about '97! They were quietly badass. They had the third toughest run to the finals based on Playoff SRS (that's some serious competition they faced), a solid playoff win percentage, the second-best win percentage among champions, and the second-highest net rating. Plus, they had to deal with a pretty tough schedule too. Now, the '96 Bulls might top a lot of lists, but, their strength of schedule wasn't doing them any favors.
There you have it. The greatest NBA teams of all time based on basic statistics. What would you change from the list above? Who do you think is the greatest team of all time and why?
Comment down below!
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