The Golden State Warriors broke the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls record for most victories in a season by one game this season, earning 73 victories to Chicago's 72.
However, with the Warriors losing in the NBA Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Tribune sports reporter K.C. Johnson writes that regular-season victories don't mean a thing without the ring.
"87-13. That's the new NBA standard for excellence," Johnson wrote.
"It has become so because the Golden State Warriors failed to finish the deal Sunday night, underscoring how it doesn't mean a thing unless you add the ring.
"History will record the Warriors' breathtaking 2015-2016 campaign as the best in regular-season history, their 73-9 mark eclipsing by one game the Chicago Bulls' record from 1995-1996.
"But those same Bulls steamrolled to their fourth championship with a 15-3 mark in the postseason, while the Warriors bowed out at home in Game 7 of the NBA Finals with a mortal 15-9 playoff mark.
"The first round moved from best-of-five to best-of-seven, which is why the Warriors matched the Bulls' playoff victories without a title. But suffering as many losses in 24 playoff games as they did in 82 regular-season games left the Warriors at 88-18 overall.
"Comparing teams from different eras always has been as futile as trying to catch water with your hands.
Heck, there's not even agreement on which of the Bulls' six title teams is the best.
"But it doesn't take the shared connection of Steve Kerr to know the Cavaliers denying the Warriors by becoming the first team in league history to rally from a 3-1 deficit in the finals gives at least one major edge to the 1995-1996 Bulls.
"Stephen Curry vowed that the Warriors will be back to try to build their own dynasty.
"There's already one gaping hole in the resume after Sunday night."
Stone Cold Love
The Cleveland Cavaliers celebrated their first NBA championship in style.
Kevin Love took it one step further and honored one of World Wrestling Entertainment's greatest superstars from the organization's "Attitude Era" from the late 1990s.
Love wore a Stone Cold Steve Austin T-shirt bearing the phrase "Austin 3:16" in the Cavs' locker room Sunday night after Cleveland's 93-89 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. He celebrated just like Austin did after one of his matches, drinking two beers at the same time and pouring it all over himself.
On Sunday, Love had 9 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists.
If the Cavs winning the NBA title doesn't bring back the Attitude Era for Vince McMahon, nothing will.
King of the Ring
LeBron James was also in on the WWE fun.
The Cleveland Cavaliers forward and this year's NBA Finals MVP wore an Ultimate Warrior T-shirt on the Cavs' plane ride to Cleveland from Las Vegas on Monday. The Ultimate Warrior was a wrestler in the WWE (then WWF) in the late 1980s-early 1990s.
It's the second wrestling-related shirt James has worn this month. James wore an Undertaker shirt before Game 5 of the Finals, when the Cavs trailed the Golden State Warriors 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Looks like James is making his case to be at the WWE pay-per-view SummerSlam in August.
Sports on 06/21/2016