Curry admits 16-0 Warriors have talked about Lakers’ 33-game win streak record

MANILA, Philippines – Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors made NBA history on Wednesday, November 25, by beating the Los Angeles Lakers to a pulp and winning their 16th straight game to start the NBA season – the best ever by any team, trumping the previous 15-0 starts held by the 1993-1994 Houston Rockets and 1948-1949 Washington Capitols.

Their 16th straight win also puts the Warriors close to the halfway mark of the 1971-1972 Lakers’ 33-game winning streak, which is the league’s record for longest ever. That Los Angeles team, led by legends Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, went on to win the NBA title.

Curry admits that the Warriors have talked about the 33-game winning streak and how they can soon be in the same category.

“Yes. That’s important to have like tangible goals that you can look at it and really work for. Obviously, for us, we do a great job of just staying in the moment,” said the reigning league MVP, who’s the current favorite to win the award again with averages of 32.1 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.1 rebounds a game.

“Nobody really talked about the 15-0 record until probably last week when we were around 12 wins, 11, 12 wins, because you can’t really get too far ahead of yourself. There’s so much that can happen in this league over 82 games. The great teams are the ones that can focus on each individual game.”

Curry, who spoke to members of the media all over the world during an international conference call on Thursday, November 26, admitted that he has talked about the 33-game winning streak more than any of the Warriors.

“So, we talk about 33. I think I’ve probably talked about it more than anybody else on the team, just because I know about the history and just really how hard it is,” he said.

“We’ve had like two 16-game winning streaks the last two years and those are pretty special feats. For us to have to double that output, I mean we’re going to play hard and hopefully close in on that record, but it won’t be a disappointing effort if we don’t get there.”

The Warriors are in good position to reach the feat. Per ESPN, they currently lead the league in scoring (114.3), field goal shooting (49%), and point differential (+15.6, which is 6.4 more than the second-ranked). Only 5 out of their 16 wins have been by single digits.

Even Kobe Bryant, who went 1-of-14 in the loss to GSW, said he could see the Warriors breaking the Lakers’ record.

“Yeah, they could do it – because they’re good,” he said after Wednesday’s game. “It’s a very young league, and they’ve managed to put together a team of extremely intelligent players and extremely versatile players, and great shooters. And so I see no reason why they couldn’t continue to extend (their winning streak).”

But Curry, who leads the league in scoring, is still cautious and says Golden State will talk about breaking Los Angeles’ record more once they get closer to it.

“Because there are so many talented teams in this league and for us to just be playing at a high level right now that’s what we’re worried about. And if we close in and get to 29, 30 games, we’ll talk about it a little bit more,” he said.

The 27-year-old NBA superstar was also asked how the team manages to keep winning despite the absence on the sidelines of head coach Steve Kerr, who’s out rehabbing his back, and has left assistant coach Luke Walton in charge.

“The system that Coach [Steve] Kerr implemented last year is the best thing that we pride ourselves on defensively and offensively. So, the message is still the same,” said Curry.

“Go out, play hard every night, and try to execute the style of play that we’ve established and hopefully good things happen. And, obviously, 16-0 is a good sign of that.” – Rappler.com