Golden State began the 2015-2016 season betting on personnel continuity and an added year of experience in head coach Steve Kerr’s quick-reaction, pass-heavy offense. While championship contenders like the Spurs spent the early season incorporating new players into an evolving offense and the Cavs struggled to find quality rotations in the wake of injuries, the Warriors were able to rely on a lineup featuring 12 players from their championship roster, including nine rotation regulars.
That familiarity paid off as Golden State dominated the first 30 percent of their schedule. Led by the slight-of-hand wizardry of Stephen Curry and buoyed by contributions from a deep and talented roster, the Warriors jumped out to an historic 24-0 record, drubbing opponents by an average of 13.