The NBA has decided to move forward with plans to no longer factor in division winners for playoff seeding.

Beginning in the 15-16 season, teams in each conference will be seeded one through eight based purely on record.

The Golden State Warriors finished the 2015 NBA Playoffs with an efficiency differential of +8.2, scoring 108.7 points per 100 possessions while allowing 100.5.

2015: Warriors (+8.2, 108.7, 100.5) 

2014: Spurs (+10.0, 114.2, 104.2)

2013: Heat (+7.3, 110.2, 102.9)

2012: Heat (+8.0, 109.6, 101.6)

2011: Mavericks (+6.6, 112.9, 106.3)

2010: Lakers (+4.3, 112.8, 108.6)

2009: Lakers (+7.9, 111.4, 103.5)

2008: Celtics (+6.1, 109.4, 103.3)

2007: Spurs (+4.4, 107.6, 103.1)

2006: Heat (+4.2, 106.5, 102.4)

2005: Spurs (+4.9, 110.1, 105.1)

2004: Pistons (+7.2, 98.5, 91.2)

2003: Spurs (+6.0, 103.8, 97.7)

2002: Lakers (+4.1, 106.4, 102.3)

2001: Lakers (+13.6, 110.0, 96.5)

2000: Lakers (+2.6, 110.4, 107.8)

1999: Spurs (+8.5, 103.7, 95.2)

1998: Bulls (+8.3, 110.7, 102.4)

1997: Bulls (+6.5, 109.0, 102.5)

1996: Bulls (+12.2, 112.5, 100.3)

The Golden State Warriors have won the 2015 NBA Finals, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 by a final score of 105-97.

The Cavaliers took a 2-1 series lead after Game 3, but the Warriors responded with the adjustment of starting Andre Iguodala in Game 4 and went on to win three straight games.

LeBron James was outstanding throughout the series for a Cavaliers' team playing without Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, but the Warriors' depth and their ability to effective play small ball was too much for him to fight through.

Iguodala won MVP honors with his play on defense on James and his contributions on offense, particularly with pushing the pace. Iguodala received seven of 11 votes, while James received the other four. Stephen Curry didn't receive any votes from 11-member panel.

Golden State hadn't won The Finals since 1975.

LeBron James will not receive any consolation in winning MVP of The Finals if the Cleveland Cavaliers don't win the series.

"I wouldn't feel good about it at all," James said after Cavs shootaround in advance of Game 6 on Tuesday night. "Because at the end of the day, I'm here to win a team prize, and that's to win a championship, not an individual prize."

James is averaging 36.6 points, 12.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists in the Finals.

ESPN's Chris Broussard polled 50 league executives and coaches from the 28 teams not playing in the Finals; 31 said James should be the MVP even if the Cavs lose the series.

The Golden State Warriors took a 3-2 series lead with their 104-91 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5.

Points Per 100 Possessions (Game 1 / Game 2 / Game 3 / Game 4)

Warriors: 112.1 / 92.9 / 100.1 / 116.0 / 115.9

Cavaliers: 103.8 / 94.9 / 105.6 / 92.4 / 104.4

Series Points Per 100 Possessions

Warriors: 105.7

Cavaliers: 98.3

Differential: 7.4 (GSW)

Possessions

Game 1: 96

Game 2: 100

Game 3: 91

Game 4: 89

Game 5: 90

David Blatt only played seven players in Game 4 before clearing the bench in the fourth quarter when the game became a blowout for the Golden State Warriors.

The Cleveland Cavaliers played eight in the first three games with Mike Miller getting a few minutes in Game 2 and Game 3.

With several players, LeBron James James and Matthew Dellavedova especially, looking worn down from the demands in the playoffs, players have begun to privately grumble that Blatt needs to use his whole roster.

There is a belief Blatt should give minutes to Mike Miller and Shawn Marion.

Several sources said Marion, who already has announced he'll retire following the season, is especially itching to get a chance. He's recently been bothered by a calf injury and also dealt with a hip injury in the regular season but is healthy and able to go.

When asked about the need to expand the rotation, LeBron James publicly yielded to Blatt after Game 4 but hinted it could help him and others get some more rest.

"That's the coach's decision if he decides he wants to go deeper in the bench," James said. "We haven't played many guys throughout this playoff run. I think it would help some of the guys that are playing some high minutes, for sure. Just give guys a couple minutes here, a couple minutes there. But I think the coaching staff will try to do what's best to help us be physically and mentally prepared for Sunday."

The Golden State Warriors are heavy favorites to win The Finals with the series tied at 2-2 heading into Game 5.

The Warriors are currently being offered at -380, meaning a $10 bet would only provide a profit of $2.63.

For Game 5, the Warriors are listed as eight-point favorites.

The implied probability is that the Warriors have a 79.2 percent chance of winning the series.

Ben Alamar of ESPN BPI gives the Warriors a 70.6 percent probability of winning the series.

The Golden State Warriors built their offense through spacing and ball movement during the regular season.

Their offense has stalled at times in The Finals, but it hasn't been when they've been able to move the ball.

In their 198 possessions when passing the ball three or more times, the Warriors have an offensive rating of 118.2. During their 189 possessions involving 0-2 passes, the Warriors have an offensive rating of just 85.2, representing a 33.0 difference between the two scenarios.

For the series, the Warriors have an offensive rating of 102.1 in 387 total possessions.

The Golden State Warriors evened The NBA Finals at two games apiece with their 103-82 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4.

Points Per 100 Possessions (Game 1 / Game 2 / Game 3 / Game 4)

Warriors: 112.1 / 92.9 / 100.1 / 116.0

Cavaliers: 103.8 / 94.9 / 105.6 / 92.4

Series Points Per 100 Possessions

Warriors: 104.0

Cavaliers: 98.2

Possessions

Game 1: 96

Game 2: 100

Game 3: 91

Game 4: 89

The Golden State Warriors started Andre Iguodala instead of Andrew Bogut in Game 4.

"Starting Andre suggestion came from Nick U'Ren, youngest guy on the Warriors' staff (age 28). Everyone on staff has a voice in things," reported Strauss on Twitter.

Steve Kerr admitted to lying to the media about the decision during his postgame press conference.

"We made the decision this morning, and so when I was asked today, I think Tim (Kawakami) asked me if Bogut was starting, I lied. No, I did. I mean, I lied. I figure I have two press conferences on the day of the game, so I'm asked a lot of strategic questions.

"So my options were tell the truth ‑‑ and I was asked both at shootaround and before the game ‑‑ so if I tell the truth, it's the equivalent of me knocking on David Blatt's door and saying, hey, this is what we're going to do. I could evade the question, which would start this Twitter phenomenon: Who is going to start for the Warriors? Or I could lie. So I lied.

"Sorry, but I don't think they hand you the trophy based on morality. They give it to you if you win. So sorry about that."

U'Ren is special assistant to Steve Kerr and was previously an assistant video coordinator with the Phoenix Suns.

According to reporting from Yahoo's Marc J. Spears, U'Ren first brought the idea up after a team dinner following the Warriors' Game 3 loss.

"I went and brought it up at dinner to mixed reviews, which is fine and totally normal," U'Ren said.

U'Ren decided to continue to work on the idea and rewatch the first half of both Game 3 and 4 of last year's Finals when the San Antonio Spurs started Boris Diaw instead of Tiago Splitter against LeBron's Miami Heat.

"I just explained that they started Diaw instead of Splitter and starting Andre is something to consider," U'Ren said. "We wanted to tell him in time to watch the film for himself and make the decision."

Kerr liked the idea of increasing the game's pace.

"I didn't see the text until this morning," Kerr said. "I told him I liked it and we debated as a staff what the repercussions would be and what the rotation would look like. It was a great idea."