1960-61 Cincinnati Royals
[edit] The Offseason
[edit] Preseason Predictions
[edit] Regular-Season Highlights
The 1960-61 edition of the Cincinnati Royals showed promise. The team opened the season on October 19th, against the newly relocated Los Angeles Lakers. Cincinnati proceeded to hand the Los Angeles Lakers their first loss, with a score of 140-123. Cincinnati got off to a good start during the season starting 5-1. However, after a loss to the St Louis Hawks on November 18th, the club would lose its footing. On January 18th 1961 the Cincinnati Royals played the Detroit Pistons in Dayton Ohio. The Royals (and other NBA teams) played regular season games quite often in other cities. During this game, the Royals proceeded to loss the match up 144-128. Cincinnati's record was never above .500 for the rest of the season.
By seasons end, the Cincinnati Royals were 33-46, placing them last in the Western Division for the third straight year. The game against the Pistons proved to be costly. For if the Royals would have won that single game in Dayton against the Pistons, they would have qualified for the play-offs. The Pistons finished the season 34-45, but placed third in the Western Divisions. To qualify for the play offs, teams simply needed NOT to finish last in their division. And that is where the Royals finished, a single game behind the Pistons in last.
