If Fanduel’s NBA daily fantasy sports were around back in the 1970s, we all could have made a lot of money by placing bets with every team member in the Los Angeles Lakers.
In 1971 the LA Lakers created their biggest point margin of 63! A win unmatched by any other combination of players in the Laker’s arsenal.
Although this game is well known by Laker fans, what other massive wins have the Lakers created?
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors – 162 to 99. 63-Point Margin
Not only did this game create a massive 63 point margin, it was also part of the Laker’s 33 game winning streak. This year was one for the record books and will always be remembered by fans and players alike.
Although now, we recognize this season as an outstanding one, it didn’t feel that way at the time. Previous seasons hadn’t gone well for the Lakers, leaving them frustrated at Coach Joe Mullaney and Coach Butch van Breda Kolff.
The team was filled with talent, and yet the coaches were not able to lead them as needed. The fans were in an uproar.
With a new coach in town, the fans and the players were feeling more adequate than in previous years. Coach Sharman and Coach Tex Winter were brought onto the scene. The shake-up was just what the players needed, and soon they were flying through the games.
2. Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors – 126 to 70. 56-Point Margin
With such a phenomenal bounce back in their previous year, the Los Angeles Lakers proved themselves again in the 1972 to 1973 season. Up against the team that helped them break records, the tension had risen to perform just as well. Of course, they managed to do so with absolute ease.
In fact, this match was the easiest of them all, despite the game being in the Western Conference Finals.
Once defeated, the Los Angeles Lakers were up against New York. Unfortunately, they did not win, but there was no doubting the hard work of the players.
The Los Angeles Lakers had made a name for themselves for two years running, and they were becoming formidable.
3. Los Angeles Lakers vs Detroit Pistons – 144 to 88. 56-Point Margin
The 1966 to 1967 season was a pretty tight one for the Los Angeles Lakers. They had 14 NBA games scheduled in just one month, November. In this season, the Lakers were dominating the court. They were not the formidable opponent that we would come to realize just yet, but they were a solid team that could hold their own.
In fact, when up against the Detroit Pistons, the Lakers not only won, but they thrashed the competition. Their impressive win of 144 to 88 wouldn’t be beaten until six years later when the LA Lakers went up against their arch-rivals, the Golden State Warriors.
We know how the future ends up for the Lakers, but during this season, the Los Angeles Lakers earned their biggest loss of 132 to 93 with a 32 point margin. Of course, that is nothing in comparison to their 56 point margin win.
4. Los Angeles Lakers vs Cleveland Cavaliers – 112 to 57. 55-Point Margin
Let’s jump forward to the 21st century now, with the smashing defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers when the Los Angeles Lakers created a 55 point margin in 2010.
If you look back on the game, you will notice that there is no empathy for the Cavaliers. Instead, the Lakers were serious, had their goals in mind, and were ruthless in their attack. This was their winning strategy.
Kobe Bryant talked to the reports after saying, “You just go out there and do your job, and we did it for 48 minutes.” This attitude towards the 112 to 57 win was an important one. You don’t know how the game can change tides, so to assume you have won when there is time left on the clock is dangerous. The Lakers knew this and kept playing.
It wasn’t just their attacking team that played well, though, as Coach Phil Jackson told the reports, “We wanted to try and limit them to as few points as possible. We had a defensive goal.”
And that goal was achieved. With both attack and defense well handled, the Lakers could do nothing but succeed.
5. Los Angeles Lakers vs San Francisco Warriors – 129 to 80. 49-Point Margin
We are heading back to that legendary 1966 to 1967 season now, where the Lakers created a phenomenal lead of 49 points against the San Francisco Warriors.
This game was one that almost foreshadowed their 56 point margin to come. This year was the year of triumph for the Lakers and should be remembered by anyone calling themselves a fan. Although videos of this game are hard to come by, if you manage to find one, share it with everyone you can.
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