Golden State Warriors: best team in NBA history?

AJ Neuharth-Keusch, USA TODAY

The Golden State Warriors are rewriting the record books this season, and they're showing no signs of slowing down. Off to a 20-0 start, their continued dominance begs the question: is this Warriors team the best that the NBA has ever seen? With plenty of season left, that's a question that can't be answered just yet. But based on what the Warriors have already accomplished, we compared 16 statistical categories to see where they stack up next to some of the greatest teams in NBA history. Since the three-point line wasn't established until the 1979-80 season, and certain stats (steals and blocks) weren't counted until the 1973-74 season, teams like the Los Angeles Lakers of 1971-72 and the Milwaukee Bucks of 1970-71 weren't taken into consideration. (Team that leads the category listed in bold)

• This season's Warriors, 20-0 (as of Dec. 4, 2015), Starting lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut

Offense per game - Points: 115.3, field goal percentage: 49.3%, three-point percentage: 43.3%, three-pointers made: 13.4, assists: 29.5

Defense per game - Opponent points: 99.9, opponent field goal percentage: 42.4%, opponent three-point percentage: 30.1%, steals: 8.5, blocks: 6.5

Rebounding per game - Offensive: 11.0, defensive: 35.4, total: 46.4

Miscellaneous - Point differential: +15.4, assists per turnover: 1.79, pace: 99.1

• The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, 72-10, Starting lineup: Ron Harper, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Luc Longley

Offense - Points: 105.2, field goal percentage: 47.8%, three-point percentage: 40.3%, three-pointers made: 6.6, assists: 24.8

Defense - Opponent points: 92.9, opponent field goal percentage: 44.8%, opponent three-point percentage: 35%, steals: 9.1, blocks: 4.2

Rebounding - Offensive: 15.2, defensive: 29.4, total: 44.6

Miscellaneous - Point differential: +12.3, assists per turnover: 1.73, pace: 91.1

• The 1985-86 Boston Celtics, 67-15, Starting lineup: Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish

Offense - Points: 114.1, field goal percentage: 50.8%, three-point percentage: 35.1%, three-pointers made: 1.7, assists: 29.1

Defense - Opponent points: 104.7, opponent field goal percentage: 46.1%, opponent three-point percentage: 27%, steals: 7.8, blocks: 6.2

Rebounding - Offensive: 12.9, defensive: 33.6, total: 46.4

Miscellaneous - Point differential: +9.4, assists per turnover: 1.75, pace: 101.2

• The 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers, 65-17, Starting lineup: Magic Johnson, Byron Sott, James Worthy, A.C. Green, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Offense - Points: 117.8, field goal percentage: 51.6%, three-point percentage: 36.7%, three-pointers made: 2.0, assists: 29.6

Defense - Opponent points: 108.5, opponent field goal percentage: 46.7%, opponent three-point percentage: 28.3%, steals: 8.9, blocks: 5.9

Rebounding - Offensive: 13.7, defensive: 30.7, total: 44.4

Miscellaneous - Point differential: +9.3, assists per turnover: 1.78, pace: 101.6

The Warriors rank ahead of the rest in eight categories, so the statistical consensus has them as the greatest team of all time. The 1986-87 Lakers rank second (four categories), the 1995-96 Bulls rank third (three categories) and 1985-86 Celtics rank fourth (two categories). With that being said, there are plenty of factors that make a team great beyond statistics. The Warriors still have a long way to go -- and an insanely high level of play to uphold -- if they want to be crowned the greatest of all time. Only time will tell, but they're well on their way.