For a kid growing up a Knicks fan in NY, I can't adequately express how the Boston series played out in the city. It was the only news in town.
Bernard was beyond explosive. He was simply unstoppable. The local tension was even higher because everyone hated Boston, and never thought the Knicks would put up such a fight.
It got even higher when Cornbread Maxwell got on Boston radio and said something to the effect that "the b*tch ain't scoring 40 on us", referring to Bernard. Of course, BK went on to do just that.
It was the most amazing offensive performance in a series that I've ever personally seen. Considering the opponent, take a look at the Knicks roster then, and figure out how much heavy offensive lifting Bernard had to do:
Bill Cartwright
Ray Williams
Rory Sparrow
Truck Robinson
Louis Orr
Darrell Walker
Trent Tucker
Ernie Grunfeld
Marvin Webster
Len Elmore
Eric Fernsten
Rudy Macklin
Just an amazing, magical performance. McGrady might have longevity on his side, but he can't match the sustained excellence Bernard achieved that year in the playoffs.
Incidentally, BK finished second to Bird in the MVP voting, and actually won the Sporting News MVP.
that was some pretty good insight into what it was like back then. You are one of the few good posters in this forum..
Spencer Haywood: 2-time All-NBA 1st Team. Not in the HOF.
Paul Westphal: 3-time All-NBA 1st Team. Not in the HOF.
Penny Hardaway: 2-time All-NBA 1st Team. Not in the HOF.
Alex Groza: 2-time All-NBA 1st Team. Not in the HOF.
Those four players dominance was not as long. Haywood's 2 All-NBA teams came with four All-Star appearances, same with Hardaway and Paul 5 All-Star games.
Groza got caught up in that betting scandal from the early 50s.
Its funny, skill wise McGrady is better then more then half the people in the HoF but he might not get in.
WTF was dat!
McGrady is EXTREMELY LUCKY to play in the era of OPEN COURT BASKETBALL.
If McGrady ever tried the skill of "McGrady to McGrady" pass off the backboard in the clogged paint area of the '80s & '90s, that will result in CAREER ENDING injury coutesy of Rodman & the bad boys, Oak man, Mason, Harper & the Knicks, Mourning & the heat, Motombo & the Hawks or whoever!
You wanna watch real scoring skills, go watch Mitch Richmonds game. he is such an underachiever.
McGrady is EXTREMELY LUCKY to play in the era of OPEN COURT BASKETBALL.
If McGrady ever tried the skill of "McGrady to McGrady" pass off the backboard in the clogged paint area of the '80s & '90s, that will result in CAREER ENDING injury coutesy of Rodman & the bad boys, Oak man, Mason, Harper & the Knicks, Mourning & the heat, Motombo & the Hawks or whoever!
You wanna watch real scoring skills, go watch Mitch Richmonds game. he is such an underachiever.
Same can be said about Glenn Rice, Steve Smith.
All 3 will BEAST in McGrady, Kobe, AI era.
EASILY!
That was in an all-star game.
Isiah threw it off the glass to MJ in an All-Star game.
He did a bounce pass alley oop to a Piston (John Salley maybe) in the late 80s.
Re: Bernard King & Tracy McGrady
