Now that the Cavs finally ended their NBA record 26 game losing streak, the question must be answered: are they the worst NBA team ever?
Obviously we need to wait until the season is over to truly understand the awfulness that is the 2010-2011 Cleveland Cavaliers, however, we can certainly start to get an understanding of their ineptness now.
The team with the worst record of all time is the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers. They went an unbelievable 9-73 that year. That put them a cool 59 games behind division winner Celtics that year. They won only 2 road games and only 2 division games. Their longest losing streak was 20 games that season. They are generally considered the benchmark for the worst team ever.
But there are a couple more options to look at. The longest single-season losing streak before the Cavs broke it was 23 games. This record was held by 2 teams: the 1995-96 Vancouver Grizzlies and the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets. The Grizzlies wound up with a record that year of 15-67, finishing 44 games behind the division winning Spurs. They managed 5 road wins and 3 division wins all season. The Nuggets finished with a record of 11-71, finishing 51 games behind the Jazz in the division. They won 2 road games and 3 division games.
This years Cavs are currently 9-46, 28.5 games behind the Bulls in the division. They have won 3 road games and one division game. This puts them on pace for a record of 13-69, 44 games behind the Bulls, with 4 road wins and 2 division wins.
So deciding which of these teams are the worst I think you can easily count out the 95-96 Grizzlies. Their losing streak was matched by the Nuggets and the Nuggets finished worse overall. The Cavs 26 game losing streak is amazing, but they would have to lose their last 27 games this season to match the 76ers record. And their projected 13 wins would be better than the Nuggets record. 44 games behind in the division is better than 51 or 59. So I would say the Cavs are not the worst team ever. Yet. It could still happen. But for now I will say the 72-73 76ers are still the worst NBA team of all time.
