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WhatIfSports 2015 NBA Championship Power Rankings
Using our NBA simulation engine, we placed the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors in a round-robin tournament featuring every NBA champion from the past 25 years. Every team in the tournament played every other team 51 times. The simulation generated each team's winning percentage (Win %), average points per game (PF) and average points allowed (PA).
To simulate these games or any other theoretical matchups of your choosing, try the WhatIfSports.com NBA SimMatchup tool.
| 2014-15 Golden State Warriors vs. Last 25 NBA Champions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Team | Win % | PF | PA | Simulate vs. Warriors |
| 1 | 2014-15 Golden State Warriors | 65.9 | 101.5 | 95.8 | NBA Champions! |
| 2 | 2012-13 Miami Heat | 64.8 | 97.7 | 93.9 | SimMatchup > |
| 3 | 1995-96 Chicago Bulls | 61.0 | 97.7 | 93.9 | SimMatchup > |
| 4 | 1996-97 Chicago Bulls | 58.8 | 95.9 | 92.7 | SimMatchup > |
| 5 | 2006-07 San Antonio Spurs | 57.3 | 95.8 | 93.5 | SimMatchup > |
| 6 | 2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers | 57.3 | 100.1 | 97.9 | SimMatchup > |
| 7 | 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs | 56.9 | 99.3 | 96.6 | SimMatchup > |
| 8 | 1991-92 Chicago Bulls | 56.7 | 101.3 | 99.5 | SimMatchup > |
| 9 | 1990-91 Chicago Bulls | 54.2 | 101.8 | 100.6 | SimMatchup > |
| 10 | 2004-05 San Antonio Spurs | 53.5 | 93.7 | 92.8 | SimMatchup > |
| 11 | 2007-08 Boston Celtics | 53.2 | 95.5 | 94.0 | SimMatchup > |
| 12 | 1994-95 Houston Rockets | 52.8 | 102.0 | 101.0 | SimMatchup > |
| 13 | 1992-93 Chicago Bulls | 52.6 | 98.6 | 97.8 | SimMatchup > |
| 14 | 2011-12 Miami Heat | 48.6 | 95.7 | 96.7 | SimMatchup > |
| 15 | 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers | 47.7 | 98.7 | 99.5 | SimMatchup > |
| 16 | 2005-06 Miami Heat | 47.6 | 98.7 | 99.4 | SimMatchup > |
| 17 | 2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers | 46.9 | 97.3 | 98.4 | SimMatchup > |
| 18 | 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers | 46.6 | 95.6 | 97.1 | SimMatchup > |
| 19 | 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks | 45.1 | 98.5 | 99.4 | SimMatchup > |
| 20 | 1989-90 Detroit Pistons | 41.9 | 96.4 | 99.4 | SimMatchup > |
| 21 | 2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers | 41.0 | 94.3 | 96.4 | SimMatchup > |
| 22 | 2002-03 San Antonio Spurs | 40.7 | 91.7 | 95.2 | SimMatchup > |
| 23 | 1997-98 Chicago Bulls | 40.7 | 92.0 | 95.3 | SimMatchup > |
| 24 | 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs | 40.3 | 91.7 | 95.0 | SimMatchup > |
| 25 | 1993-94 Houston Rockets | 35.8 | 95.9 | 100.3 | SimMatchup > |
| 26 | 2003-04 Detroit Pistons | 32.1 | 90.7 | 97.3 | SimMatchup > |
The Golden State Warriors captured the franchise's second NBA title, and first since 1975, besting LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Though occasionally struggling in the postseason - the Warriors trailed both the Memphis Grizzlies and Cavaliers two games to one before rallying to win each series in six games - Golden State submitted one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history. The team was first in the NBA in numerous categories: points per game (110.0), point differential (+10.1), field goal percentage (.478), field goal percentage allowed (.428) and three point percentage (.398), among others.
But how would Steph Curry and co. fare against past NBA champions? Using our NBA simulation engine, we put the 2014-15 Warriors into a tournament featuring the last 25 teams to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy, dating back to the 1989-1990 Detroit Pistons. The Warriors took top billing in the tournament, winning 65.9 percent of contests. At 101.5 points per game, Golden State had the simulation's third-best offense. Its defense ranked 10th, allowing 95.8 points per game.
Among the teams dethroned by the Warriors were six Chicago Bulls champions. The best of the bunch was the 1995-96 Bulls, which won an NBA-record 72 regular-season games and placed third in the simulation. The San Antonio Spurs were also well-represented with five teams in the tournament. The 2006-07 Spurs, which won the franchise's fourth championship, finished a team-best fifth in the simulation.
