By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The year changed from 2015 to 2016, but the hot streak of Valencia basket remains the same. The Spaniards are still unbeaten from the start of the season with a 27-0 total record and they are on the pace to write basketball history.
To be exact Valencia has already one of the best ever season starts ever, better than the 24-0 start of the Golden State Warriors. However, at this point Valencia can aim even higher. To be exact Valencia tied the second longest winning streak of the NBA, which was registered during the 2012-13 season by the Miami Heat (27-0). The longest winning streak of the NBA remains 33 wins and still belongs to the 1971-72 Lakers team.
Taking into account the fact that the NBA games are a totally different beast compared to Europe, Valencia can also be compared with two of Europe’s biggest powerhouses, even if it competes in the season’s Eurocup – the second rate continental competition – and not in the Euroleague. The 27-0 record is already better than the 25 games winning streak of Barcelona back in the 2009-2010 season, during which Barca won its last Euroleague.
And even the 33 wins of the Lakers pale to comparison with the amazing 42-0 run from the start of the 2004-05 season of CSKA Moscow. And here comes the cautionary part of the tale. CSKA was hosting the Euroleague final four in Moscow, entered the semifinal with a 21-1 Euroleague record, but was heartbreakingly defeated by Tau Ceramica – the name of Laboral Kutxa back in 2005 – despite being the undisputed favorite to win the Euroleague.
Valencia will probably continue its amazing run, but the season of the club will ultimately be jugded in the games which will decide the Eurocup, the Copa Del Rey and the Liga Endesa championship title.