The forgotten team: 1993 New York Knicks

[3ball]

Pat Riley's Knicks had the #1 defense in the league for three straight years - 1993, 1994, and 1995.. (#2 in 1992).

John Starks was 18 ppg, 5 apg, and 2nd team all-defense in 1993.

Knicks also had Ewing (24/12 and All-NBA), Anthony Mason (12/8), Charles Smith (12/5), Charles Oakley (7/8), Greg Anthony (7/6a), Doc Rivers (8/5a), Ronaldo Blackman (10/3a)

Knicks had homecourt advantage.. After the series, MJ said that before the series even started, the Bulls knew the Knicks would be their toughest test of the playoffs - the defacto championship played in ECF:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eve0wooazZM&t=13m44s
.

[Legends66NBA7]

I liked the 91/92 Knicks more. They pushed a better Bulls team to the brink and even won their home court once.

[Young X]

I liked the 91/92 Knicks more. They pushed a better Bulls team to the brink and even won their home court once.

That team was crazy.

Ewing
Oakley
Mason
Starks
McDaniel
Wilkins

Crazy amount of toughness on one team.

[Real14]

That team was amazing

[3ball]

That team was crazy.

Ewing
Oakley
Mason
Starks
McDaniel
Wilkins

Crazy amount of toughness on one team.

True.. It's interesting because Wilkins was a key Knicks' defender on MJ in 1992 ECF.. Then he was picked up by the Cavs in 1993 to be the "Jordan Stopper".

MJ crushed him in 1993 ECSF along with the Cavs' 6th-ranked defense and 3-all-stars in Nance (17/9), Price (18/8) and Daughtery (20/10).. This was right before the rematch with the Knicks referenced in OP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eve0wooazZM&t=8m32s

[wally_world]

True.. It's interesting because Wilkins was a key Knicks' defender on MJ in 1992 ECF.. Then he was picked up by the Cavs in 1993 to be the "Jordan Stopper".

MJ crushed him in 1993 ECSF along with the Cavs' 6th-ranked defense and 3-all-stars in Nance (17/9), Price (18/8) and Daughtery (20/10).. This was right before the rematch with the Knicks referenced in OP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eve0wooazZM&t=8m32s

Wilkins is the reason the Knicks werent more successful imo. Played wayyyyy over his head with the Jordan-stopper thing, and being the brother of Dominique. Should've gave bigger roles to XMan, Starks etc.

[AceManIII]

How does old Knicks fans feel about Charles Smith?

[unknowns8]

if the Knicks had beaten Houston in the Finals in mid-90's, this team would be getting the respect it deserves ... as it stands, when Mike wasn't around and they still lost, I think a lot of basketball fans went off them as a genuinely great team ... same applies to Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley

[Uncle Drew]

Let's be real, OP gives jackshit about that Knicks team. He just made it to suck Jordan off some more.

[Rocketswin2013]

Let's be real, OP gives jackshit about that Knicks team. He just made it to suck Jordan off some more.

[Indian guy]

Best defensive team of the 90's, but they were dreadful offensively - 6th worst in the NBA. And a team that inept at putting the ball in the hole was never going to win a championship. Pretty sad for Ewing that the best NY could ever give him as a 2nd option was Starks.

[RidonKs]

Pat Riley's Knicks had the #1 defense in the league for three straight years - 1993, 1994, and 1995.. (#2 in 1992).

John Starks was 18 ppg, 5 apg, and 2nd team all-defense in 1993.

Knicks also had Ewing (24/12 and All-NBA), Anthony Mason (12/8), Charles Smith (12/5), Charles Oakley (7/8), Greg Anthony (7/6a), Doc Rivers (8/5a), Ronaldo Blackman (10/3a)

Knicks had homecourt advantage.. After the series, MJ said that before the series even started, the Bulls knew the Knicks would be their toughest test of the playoffs - the defacto championship played in ECF:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eve0wooazZM&t=13m44s
.

that last possession in game 5 at 20:45... a grant verticality, a jordan strip, and two pippen blocks... goddamn incredible

jesus pip to mj allyoop at 21:35

[GimmeThat]

I like it.

and this actually reminds me of the stretch in early 2000 where the league had multiple 30 PPG scorer, then went for a stretches where that number went down.

but more importantly, many if not all of those players became what others known/suspected as one hit wonder.

[JohnnySic]

They were modelled after the Bad Boy Pistons.

[Hey Yo]

Let's be real, OP gives jackshit about that Knicks team. He just made it to suck Jordan off some more.

Jordan shot 40% in that series. Same % as LeBron in last seasons Finals.

3ball knows he can't blow Jordan for that series cause Pippen played better.