Jerry West Says the Heat Have An Incredible Chance to Break the Lakers Winning Streak

January 10, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors executive board member Jerry West (left) talks to Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (right) before the game at ORACLE Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The man known as “The Logo” Jerry West, believes that the Miami Heat have an incredible chance to break the Los Angeles Lakers 33-game winning streak.

West, who is an executive with the Golden State Warriors after successful tenures with the Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies, was on that team in the 1971-72 season that set the longstanding record. In a story via Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles, the former Lakers guard, says that the fact that the record could fall doesn’t bother him.

"“I think [the Heat] have an incredible chance to do it,” said Golden State Warriors executive Jerry West, who averaged 25.8 points and 9.7 assists for the Lakers in 1971-72.“You ask me, ‘Does it bother me?’ Absolutely not. I think it’s great for the league. I’m excited for my friend, Pat Riley, to be able to replicate this now as an executive. But as a player, that’s pretty special.”"

West likes the Heat’s playing style and is also a fan of Lebron James, especially after he’s risen above all the criticism he’s faced throughout his career.

"“He’s an amazing player,” West said Thursday. “And, frankly, I’m thrilled for him because of all the negative things said about him as a player. He’s improved as a player, but more importantly as a person.”“I think they have a team,” West said. “So much of the NBA has been marketing its stars. Players that have a flamboyant way of playing, and we have some incredible athletes playing this game. So much of the marketing in the NBA has been, frankly, about players. I think it’s time we talked about the teams.“When I look at the league this year, I think we have a lot of great teams. You look how they play together, Denver, Memphis, San Antonio, and obviously, the Heat. I don’t want to leave anyone out, but I’m just mentioning those four teams.”"

The former Lakers coach, sees the San Antonio Spurs as the only team capable of posing a threat to the Heat’s march towards history.

"“It may not end,” he said. “That’s why I think it’s so remarkable. I look at the schedule and I see one team on there that’s a terrific team and obviously that’s the Spurs. That would be a game that I would be concerned about, playing in San Antonio and they’re going to have Tony Parker back by then.”“There’s gonna be more and more focus on the games, and I think it makes the players focus more on trying to achieve the record that everyone said couldn’t be broken. I think they’ve got a great chance to do it myself.”"

Not only is Jerry West one of the greatest players to ever play basketball, but he’s also one of the greatest minds in the game.

He was the architect behind the Lakers team that won three championships from 2000 to 2002 with Shaq and Kobe Bryant, then he went to the Grizzlies and turned that sorry franchise around. So anything he says concerning the game of basketball, I’m taking it to the bank.

Will Laker Nation like his comments? Who knows, who cares.

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