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