91% of all NBA champions have won 40 games before 20 losses. Thunder, Pistons and Spurs have locked it in. Celtics have to win 3 straight.
According to the “40-20” rule, as popularised by Phil jackson, only teams that have won 40 games before their 20th loss are the real contenders. Since 1980, only 4 teams have won the championship without getting their 40th win before their 20th loss.
-1994-95 Houston Rockets (started 40-25)
-2003-04 Detroit Pistons (started 40-25)
-2005-06 Miami Heat (started 40-20)
-2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks (started 40-24)
This season only the Thunder, Pistons and Spurs have accomplished the feat. With the Celtics currently sitting at 37-19, they are the only other team that could join by winning their next 3 games.
Only two teams in all of NBA history have won with lower than a 3rd seed. The 1968-69 Celtics (4 seed) and the 1994-95 Rockets (6 seed).