A Bucks’ victory over Pelicans may have special significance
By JERRY TAPP
The Milwaukee Bucks defeat of the Phoenix Suns on Sunday upped their record to 42-7 for the season.
The Bucks will go to New Orleans on Tuesday to face the Pelicans in Game #50 for the 2019-20 season. It may just be another game on the schedule, but a win putting the Bucks record at 43-7, 50 games into the season, may be just the omen the team is hoping for.
With a win on Tuesday the Bucks would become just the eighth team in league history to have 43 or more wins on their 50th game of the season. What makes this accomplishment all the more interesting is that of the seven teams that had 43 or more wins at Game #50, all seven went to the NBA Finals that season… and better yet, six of the seven actually won the title that season.
Here’s a look at the teams who on Game #50 of an NBA season had 43 or more wins.
Philadelphia,
1966-67, 46-4, won the title that season
Golden State, 2015-16, 46-4, lost in the NBA Finals that season
Chicago, 1995-96, 45-5, won the title that season
Chicago, 1996-97, 44-6, won the title that season
L.A. Lakers, 1971-72, 43-7, won the title that season
Philadelphia, 1982-83, 43-7, won the title that season
Golden State, 2016-17, 43-7, won the title that season
Should the Bucks lose to New Orleans on Tuesday, they would be 42-8 on their 50th game of the season. They would become the fifth team to have 42 wins at Game #50. The big difference, however, is that of the four teams that were 42-8 at the Game #50 milestone, only one made it to the NBA Finals that year.
Here are the four teams that were 42-8 and how well they did in the playoffs that season.
Boston, 1964-65, 42-8, won the title that season
Portland, 1977-78, 42-8. lost in the Western Conf. semifinals that season
San Antonio, 2010-11, 42-8, lost in the Western Conference first round that season
San Antonio, 2015-16, 42-8, lost in the Western Conf. semifinals that season
The Bucks are hoping a victory for win 43 at the 50-game mark this season will be good luck like it was for the other seven teams which reached 43 or more wins at game #50 in a season.
Follow Jerry on Twitter @StatsonTapp
