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Whether positive or negative, it is common to talk about streaks in the day-to-day life of the NBA, both on a group and individual level. But today we will play one about teams: most consecutive wins in a season.
Including three squads that made history: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat y Golden State Warriors. Let’s review these historical brands.
Los Angeles Lakers
- Winning streak: 33
- Dates: November 5, 1971 to January 7, 1972
- Season: 1971-1972
There is no team in NBA history that has managed to win so many games in a row. With Bill Sharman as coach, the franchise was led by Wilt Chamberlain (in his penultimate season in the NBA), Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Pat Rileyamong others.
This began on November 5, 1971, in the tenth game of the season. They beat the Baltimore Bullets 110-106. They then swept all the rivals that came forward, including the Phoenix Suns whom they defeated in overtime. The last game they won was against the Atlanta Hawks by 134-90. Subsequently, the Milwaukee Bucks led by 39 points from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and 17 more points from Oscar Robertson, ended that streak.
That purple and gold team won the championship by defeating the New York Knicks in five games, who had Phil Jackson and Walt Frazier.
Golden State Warriors
- Winning streak: 28
- Dates: April 9, 2015 to December 11, 2015
- Season: 2014-2015 a 2015-2016
In this streak, a clarification must be made: It was made between the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons. It was Steve Kerr’s first year as coach leading the Californians, on a team that included Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
The Warriors, in game 79 of the regular season, defeated the Portland Trail Blazers and had four victories. For the beginning of the next season, they continued with that streak and kept it alive until the 24th game of the season, after they dramatically beat the Boston Celtics 124-119 in a game they won in double overtime.
In the next matchup, they lost against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 108-95. Golden State finished that season with the best record ever in the regular season with 73 wins and 9 losses. And although they made it to the Finals, they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.
Miami Heat
- Winning streak: 27
- Dates: February 3, 2013 to March 25, 2013
- Season: 2012-2013
Another team that transcended. In their ranks they had LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, among others.. After winning the championship in the 2011-2012 campaign, They won 27 games in a row in a streak that began on February 3, 2013 against the Toronto Raptors.
Although they had two road trips, one of four and the other of five games, they managed to stay on the right track after they also went to double overtime against the Sacramento Kings. In the end, one of their biggest rivals of that era, the Chicago Bulls, They ended that streak by beating the Heat 101-97.
Miami finished the regular season with a 66-16 record and beat the San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the Finals.
20 wins in a row
| Equipment | Season | Victories |
|---|---|---|
1. Historian Michael Adams: As we discuss the most consecutive wins in an NBA season among three historic teams, can you name some key factors that contributed to their dominance during those periods? How did they maintain their focus and drive to keep winning games one after the other?
2. Sports Analyst Ellen Bernstrom: Of course! It’s fascinating to relive these legendary streaks. For the Los Angeles Lakers, having players like Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor on their roster certainly helped. Their chemistry under Bill Sharman’s coaching was also crucial. Regarding the Golden State Warriors, the inclusion of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green gave them an edge. the Miami Heat’s Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh propelled them to their success. All three teams had exceptional talent and leadership, which played a significant role in their winning streaks. Maintaining focus and drive can be challenging, but I think their strong coaching and team mentality kept them motivated game after game.
3. Historian Michael Adams: Absolutely. Speaking of which, it’s interesting to note that the longest winning streak belongs to the Los Angeles Lakers, who won 33 games. Can you tell us more about this team and the context in which they achieved this record?
4. Sports Analyst Ellen Bernstrom: Yes, it’s truly remarkable! This streak occurred during the 1971-1972 season when the Lakers were coached by Bill Sharman. They had a strong roster with players like Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor, among others. It began on November 5, 1971, when they beat the Baltimore Bullets 110-106. They continued to dominate their opponents, including a thrilling overtime victory against the Phoenix Suns. The Milwaukee Bucks, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, finally ended their impressive run on January 7, 1972. Despite this impressive feat, the Lakers went on to win the championship that year against the New York Knicks, led by Phil Jackson and Walt Fraz
