THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Wednesday, April 13, 2016

For the record, I haven’t been much of a fan of the NBA since the lockout of the 1998-99 season, which lasted six months and forced the season to be shortened to 50 games.

Then again, the lockout in 2011 didn’t help things either.

But now, with the Golden State Warriors chasing history, you’ve got my attention.

IF GOLDEN State wins its 73rd game of the season tonight — the Warriors are facing Memphis in the regular-season finale in Oakland, Calif. — Golden State will be the first team in NBA history to win that many games.

Should they lose, and there’s always a chance, they’ll tie the record of the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls with 72 wins in a season.

For the good part of a month, there’s been a strong debate between experts of who’s the better team between Golden State and the Bulls.

Right now, it doesn’t really matter.

If you’re judging these teams by what they’ve done in the year leading up to championships, Golden State won the NBA title last year.

Chicago on the other hand, qualified for the playoffs in the 1994-95 season, but Michael Jordan was playing outfield for the Birmingham Barons and chasing a baseball career before opting to come back to the team late in the regular season.

And regardless of what players say when it comes to who might win in a series between the two, there’s really no chance of knowing just who’d win those games.

Golden State has Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who have made a habit of hitting any shot, anywhere, at any time.

The Bulls had Jordan and Scottie Pippen, who were able to do good things in their own right.

But the game has changed so much in that time that these teams are great with how the game was played during their time.

Keep in mind, when Chicago reached the playoffs that year, the team that handed them two losses in the finals — the Seattle SuperSonics — eventually left the Emerald City in 2008.

AND WHILE it might seem as if the Warriors are the heavy favorite to win a second straight NBA title this year, nothing is guaranteed.

Not with San Antonio nipping at their heels with 65 wins heading into Tuesday’s game against Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City — the former Seattle franchise — could also make things a little difficult for Golden State, should those teams meet in the postseason.

Starting Saturday, Golden State’s great season won’t mean anything when the playoffs begin.

Granted, winning 72 or 73 depending on tonight’s outcome has guaranteed that they’ll be at home for the first two games.

That’s it.

That’s all.

It’s going to be a lot of fun to see what happens next with the Warriors, because they make the game fun to watch.

Something that can’t be said for the past few years.

Win or lose, the NBA has definitely gotten my attention again.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JEPressSports.