The San Antonio Spurs are unlikely to catch the Golden State Warriors in terms of regular season record, while the Warriors are unlikely to catch the Spurs on efficiency differential.
These are the two metrics we most frequently use to judge teams on their regular season play and a split of the two categories is not particularly uncommon as evidenced by the splits listed below in bold.
When a team leads the NBA in both categories since the 80-81 season, they have won The Finals in 12 out of 20 seasons (60 percent).
* Signifies team that led the NBA in both categories and also won the NBA Finals.
Efficiency Differential/Win-Loss
15-16: Spurs/Warriors ?
14-15: Warriors/Warriors *
13-14: Spurs/Spurs *
12-13: Thunder/Heat
11-12: Bulls/Bulls
10-11: Heat/Bulls
09-10: Magic/Cavaliers
08-09: Cavaliers/Cavaliers
07-08: Celtics/Celtics *
06-07: Spurs/Mavericks
05-06: Spurs/Pistons
04-05: Spurs/Suns
03-04: Spurs/Pacers
02-03: Mavericks/Mavericks
01-02: Kings/Kings
00-01: Spurs/Spurs
99-00: Lakers/Lakers *
98-99: Spurs/Spurs *
97-98: Lakers/Jazz
96-97: Bulls/Bulls *
95-96: Bulls/Bulls *
94-95: Jazz/Spurs
93-94: Sonics/Sonics
92-93: Sonics/Suns
91-92: Bulls/Bulls *
90-91: Bulls/Blazers
89-90: Lakers/Lakers
88-89: Cavaliers/Pistons
87-88: Celtics/Lakers
86-87: Lakers/Lakers *
85-86: Celtics/Celtics *
84-85: Lakers/Celtics
83-84: Celtics/Celtics *
82-83: 76ers/76ers *
81-82: Celtics/Celtics
80-81: 76ers/Celtics