The 2014-15 NBA season truly has exemplified the best of times, Golden State’s season, and the worst of times, the Knicks nightmare, throughout the league.
Some teams continued their run of excellence (Spurs). Others maintained their tribute to misery (Kings).
So as the last two days of the regular season unfold with only the eighth spots in each conference remaining to be settled, here’s a look at each team’s record in terms of franchise history or recent trends.
This week’s Post NBA Power Rankings:
1. Golden State Warriors (66-15) (Last week: 1): Warriors passed the franchise mark of 59 wins long ago. A win over Denver Wednesday would be No. 67 for the Warriors and tie the sixth-best single-season win total in NBA history.
2. San Antonio Spurs (55-26) (3): The Spurs extended their NBA record for consecutive seasons with 50 or more victories to 16.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-29) (2): LeBron James’ triple double Monday helped the Cavs to their 52nd win and the sixth-winningest season in franchise history. A win Wednesday over Washington would give the Cavs a 20-game improvement on last season.
4. Atlanta Hawks (60-21) (4): The Hawks, with a chance for a 23-game improvement over last season, established a franchise record for victories.
5. Los Angeles Clippers (55-26) (5): The Clippers have won 50-plus for a third straight season — the only three 50-win campaigns in their history — but they won’t match last season’s output of 57.
6. Houston Rockets (55-26) (6): This represents the 11th time in their two-championship history the Rockets won 50 games. The franchise record is 58 wins in the 1993-94 title year.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (54-27) (7): The Grizzlies rolled up their third straight 50-victory season, fourth in franchise history.
8. Chicago Bulls (49-32) (9): The Bulls, if they are so inclined as they clinched homecourt in the first round by beating the Nets on Monday, could clinch the 16th 50-victory season in franchise history by beating Atlanta on Wednesday.
9. Portland Trail Blazers (51-30) (8): The Blazers’ second straight 50-win season and 12th in franchise history still fell way short of the team record for victories: 63 in 1990-91.
10. Toronto Raptors (48-32) (12): The Raptors have never won 50 and 48 ties the franchise high. They can get to 50 by winning in Boston on Tuesday and at home against Charlotte Wednesday.
11. Dallas Mavericks (49-32) (10): A win over Portland on Wednesday would give the Mavs 50 for the 14th time in their history, but the first time in four years.
12. Washington Wizards (46-34) (11): The Wizards finish on the road against Indiana and Cleveland. Even with wins, they’ll fail to hit 50 victories for a 36th straight season. They were 54-28 in 1978-79.
13. New Orleans Pelicans (44-37) (14): A tall-order victory over the Spurs on Wednesday would give the Pelicans their 45th victory, only the fifth-best total in the New Orleans era of the franchise.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder (44-37) (13): Injuries doomed the Thunder to their worst record in six seasons, since their first campaign in Oklahoma City.
15. Milwaukee Bucks (41-40) (18): Despite some struggles after the All-Star break, the Bucks will still finish with their second-best record in 11 years.
16. Boston Celtics (38-42) (17): When the franchise has such a storied history, it seems illogical to get excited over a losing season. But the Celtics improbably clinched a playoff berth after winning just 25 games last season.
17. Utah Jazz (38-43) (16): The Jazz served notice they are a team to be reckoned with in the future, despite a third straight losing record — and that is only the second time that has happened since the franchise moved to Salt Lake City in 1979.
18. Indiana Pacers (37-43) (21): The Pacers can clinch the most unlikely playoff spot of all — at the Nets’ expense — by beating Washington and Memphis on Tuesday and Wednesday. If that bid comes, it will do so despite Indy’s worst record in five years.
19. Brooklyn Nets (37-44) (15): There is still a very discernible playoff pulse, but the Nets, by losing 3-of-4, need help to make the playoffs. Either way, they are assured of their first losing record in their short three-year stay in Brooklyn.
20. Phoenix Suns (39-42) (19): The Suns were supposed to be losers last year. They won 48. They were supposed to be winners this year. They’ve lost 42 with one to play. So they have their fourth losing record in five seasons.
21. Miami Heat (36-45) (20): In most states, the Heat would be declared legally dead. But there is an ever-so-faint ray of hope. No matter how it shakes out, life after LeBron saw a plunge from 54 wins. The Heat have their worst record since 2007-08.
22. Detroit Pistons (31-50) (23): The Pistons, once the Bad Boys, have been just bad recently. This is the fifth time in six seasons they have lost 50 games.
23. Denver Nuggets (30-51) (25): The Nuggets have lost 50 games for the first time since 2002-03 and for the eighth time in their NBA history.
24. Charlotte Hornets (33-48) (22): After 43 victories and a playoff appearance last year, the Hornets regressed and suffered their fourth losing season in five years, their ninth in 11.
25. Sacramento Kings (28-53) (24): The Kings have now lost 50-plus games for a fourth straight season, seventh time in eight years.
26. Orlando Magic (25-56) (26): The Magic play the Nets on Wednesday so they could have a huge say in the final Eastern playoff spot. That’s something to remember 2014-15 for, rather than the seventh-worst season in franchise history.
27. Los Angeles Lakers (21-60) (27): The once-proud Lakers have a new standard for futility. This was the first 60-defeat season in the franchise’s storied history.
28. New York Knicks (17-64) (29): Phil Jackson’s first season in New York produced the worst record ever and the first 60-loss campaign in the history of the franchise.
29. Philadelphia 76ers (18-63) (28): As wretched as this campaign was in Philly, the Sixers still doubled the win total of the worst season in franchise — and NBA — history, the 9-73 horror of 1972-73.
30. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-65) (30): The Timberwolves compiled fewer than 20 victories for the fifth time in their 26-season history. It’s the ninth time they lost 60.