Like it or not, if you are a basketball fan, you know the Miami Heat are a very elite team, arguably the best in the league right now. The Heat became just the fifth team in NBA history to win twenty consecutive games on Wednesday when they beat the Philadelphia 76ers. With this feat under their belt, many know believe the Heat, led by MVP contender LeBron James, can reach or possibly pass the all-time consecutive wins record (33), held by the Los Angeles Lakers.
This record was achieved by the 1971-72 Lakers, which included superstars like Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Gail Goodrich, who went on to win the championship that season. With the Heat’s current win streak now entering the same conversation as this Lakers’ all-time record, some Laker legends are speaking out on the manner.
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Bill Sharman was the head coach of the Lakers when the team achieved 33 straight wins in 1971-72. Sharman recently shared the following about Miami’s streak:
“It is certainly a possibility that the Heat could break our 33-game winning streak,” Sharman, a Hall of Fame coach, told Fox Sports Florida. “The record has held for 41 years, and all of us that participated in it are very proud to have been part of that season. However, [Heat president] Pat Riley has put together an amazing team, and I have to admit this one makes me a little nervous.”
“If they break the record, I would be happy for Pat Riley,” Sharman said. “But, naturally, part of me wants to hold on to that record a little bit longer.”
Laker legend and Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich, who led the 1971-72 Laker team in scoring, added the following:
“I’d say this is the most serious challenge we’ve had to our streak,” Goodrich told Fox Sports Florida. “I think they’ll make a very, very, very serious run at our record, They might even break it. They’re head and shoulders over the rest of the NBA. Who’s going to beat them? There’s not as much parity in the league now.”
“Sure, I’d like to keep the record,” Goodrich said. “But I’m not going to root against the Heat.”
Reaching the record of 33 straight wins is a difficult task, regardless of how talented the team is. That is because every single opponent wants to be the team to stop your streak. The Heat will go for 21 straight tonight in Milwaukee, who have already beaten them this season.
If you remember, it was the Milwaukee Bucks, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who ended the 1971-72 Lakers’ streak at 33 games. I think it’s safe to say that LA and Lakers fans would like to keep possession of this historical record.
