*Originally published on Suite101.com in 2010 as a 4-part series; revisions made pertaining to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and combining the 4 parts of the series into 1 article.
In 1992-1993, both the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks retooled their rosters in order to challenge the Chicago Bulls for the NBA Championship. After a first round loss in the 1993 Playoffs, the Pacers caught up to the Knicks to compete for the Eastern Conference’s bid for the 1994 Finals. In 1995, the tide turned as Reggie Miller scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds to lead the Pacers to a Game 1 comeback win and series win over the Knicks. The three-year playoff rivalry between the Knicks and Pacers laid the foundation for the Pacers and led to the reshaping of the Knicks.
Part I: 1993 NBA Playoffs
The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks developed a heated rivalry when they met in the playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 1993 to 1995. While the Knicks were seen as a legitimate championship contender, the Pacers were trying to emerge from a second tier of playoff teams. In the span of three years, Reggie Miller helped the Pacers to become an NBA Championship contender at the expense of the Knicks.
1992-1993 Indiana Pacers
A year after finishing 40-42 and getting swept by the fading Boston Celtics in 1992, the Pacers finished 41-41 in their last season under Head Coach Bob Hill. While Miller, Rik Smits, and Detlef Schrempf remained core players for Indiana, the team traded former Rookie of the Year Chuck Person and starting point guard Michael Williams to the Minnesota Timberwolves for point guard Pooh Richardson and forward Sam Mitchell. Former starting point guard Vern Fleming continued to take a reduced role in the Pacers lineup, while young forward Dale Davis took his place in the starting lineup. Other contributors included George McCloud, LaSalle Thompson, Malik Sealy, Kenny Williams, and Greg Dreiling.
1992-1993 New York Knicks
Meanwhile, New York had an exciting playoff run in 1992. The Knicks defeated Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons 3-2 in the first round of the 1992 NBA Playoffs. Then, the Knicks took Michael Jordan and the defending NBA Champion Chicago Bulls to a decisive Game 7, falling in the series 4-3. With Greg Anthony ready to take on a bigger role in the lineup, the Knicks traded starting point guard Mark Jackson to the Los Angeles Clippers, landing veteran guard Doc Rivers and forward Charles Smith. While the Knicks lost key contributors Xavier McDaniel, Gerald Wilkins, and Kiki Vandeweghe, they added veterans Rolando Blackman, Tony Campbell, and Herb Williams and rookie guard Hubert Davis to support a core group of Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, John Starks, and Anthony Mason.
1993 Playoffs
The Knicks entered the playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 60-22. This qualified as the second-best record in the NBA, behind only the Phoenix Suns and ahead of the defending champion Bulls. On the other hand, the Pacers finished 41-41, edging out the Orlando Magic for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference by virtue of winning a tie-breaker.
Needless to say, the Knicks were heavily favored when they met the Pacers in the first round of the 1993 NBA Playoffs. While Miller averaged 31.5 points and three others (Smits – 22.5, Schrempf – 19.5, and Fleming – 10.0) averaged double-digits in scoring, the Knicks’ top-ranked defense limited any other offensive output from the Pacers’ lineup. Indiana's next highest scorer in the series was George McCloud at 4.8 points per game. In the closeout Game 4, the Knicks had five players score in double figures, with four posting double-doubles: Ewing, 28 points & 13 rebounds; Mason, 25 points & 10 rebounds; Oakley, 13 points & 13 rebounds; and Rivers, 21 points and 11 assists. Despite big Game 4 performances from the Pacers by Miller, Schrempf, and Smits, the top-ranked New York Knicks defeated the eighth seed Indiana Pacers in the first round 3-1.
After defeating the Charlotte Hornets 4-1 in the second round, the Knicks would win the first two games of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals against the Bulls, only to lose the next four in a row as Michael Jordan and the Bulls marched to their third consecutive NBA Championship. While Knicks Coach Pat Riley prepared for another championship run in the following season, Pacers Coach Bob Hill—who had coached the team for about 2 ½ seasons—left the franchise in position to experience more success in the coming years.
Part II: Rematch in the 1994 Playoffs
In 1993-1994, the Pacers and Knicks found themselves amidst the top of the Eastern Conference as the Bulls chased after a fourth consecutive NBA Championship without retired superstar Michael Jordan. Despite the addition of international star Toni Kukoc, many analysts and fans saw this season as the year that the Knicks and their top-ranked defense would finally get past the Bulls en route to the NBA Finals. At the same time, the Pacers made strides to becoming a championship contender under new Head Coach Larry Brown. Sacrificing some scoring in order to play better defense, the Pacers finished the 1993-1994 NBA season ranked eighth in points allowed per game. This eventually set the stage for a second consecutive playoff matchup between the Pacers and Knicks and the beginning of Reggie Miller’s clutch play in New York.
1993-1994 Indiana Pacers
In addition to hiring Brown as Head Coach, the Pacers traded former Sixth Man of the Year and All-Star forward Detlef Schrempf for forward Derrick McKey. While Schrempf was more of a standout as an offensive player, McKey—a decent scorer in his own right—was more highly regarded on the defensive end of the court, eventually earning All-NBA Defensive Second Team status in 1995 and 1996. Meanwhile, veteran guard Byron Scott joined the Pacers after winning two NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. In addition, guard Haywoode Workman—another player known for his defensive play—returned to the NBA after a three-year absence, while rookie forward Antonio Davis also joined the Pacers rotation. The team improved to 47-35 and claimed the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed in the 1994 NBA Playoffs. After upsetting Shaquille O’Neal and the fourth seed Magic 3-0 in the first round, the Pacers upset the top-ranked Atlanta Hawks and NBA Coach of the Year Lenny Wilkens 4-2 in the second round of the playoffs.
1993-1994 New York Knicks
Sensing an NBA Championship within reach, the Knicks made minimal moves in the offseason, only adding reserve forward Anthony Bonner to the rotation. However, 19 games into the season, Doc Rivers suffered a season-ending injury. To fill the hole, the Knicks sent Tony Campbell and a draft pick to the Dallas Mavericks for starting point guard Derek Harper, who was a former All-Defensive Second Team member. Harper fit both the offensive and defensive schemes of Coach Riley, eventually replacing Greg Anthony as the starting point guard in New York.
At 57-25, the Knicks lost a tie-breaker to the Hawks and claimed the Eastern Conference’s second seed in the playoffs. After defeating the seventh seed New Jersey Nets 3-1 in the first round, the Knicks faced a rematch with another rival, the Bulls. After winning the first two games of the series by 4 points and 5 points, the Knicks had to overcome a potential series-changing game-winning shot by Toni Kukoc in Game 3 to win the series 4-3, setting up a rematch with the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals
1994 Eastern Conference Finals
Although the Knicks had won 10 more games than the Pacers during the 1993-1994 season, the Pacers’ impressive series wins over the Magic and Hawks made this a more even matchup. However, home court advantage proved to be beneficial to the Knicks as they won each of the first two games in New York by 11 points. The Pacers responded by winning Game 3 by 20 points and Game 4 by 6 points, setting up a pivotal Game 5.
Led by Miller’s 39 points, including 25 points in the 4th quarter, the Pacers upset the Knicks at Madison Square Garden to win a third consecutive game and take a 3-2 series lead. However, John Starks stepped up to score 26 points against Miller’s 27 points in Game 6, while Patrick Ewing put together an amazing Game 7 with 24 points, 22 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, and 1 steal to help the Knicks take the series 4-3.
In the 1994 Finals, the Knicks would have another close series as they competed with the Houston Rockets for the NBA Championship. At one point, the Knicks took a 3-2 series lead. However, the Rockets capitalized on their own home court advantage in winning the final two games by 2 points and 6 points to clinch the NBA Championship.
Just one win away from winning the championship, expectations around the NBA remained high for the Knicks to challenge in the upcoming season. However, the 1994 NBA Finals appearance would be the only one during Pat Riley’s tenure as Head Coach.
Part III: Reggie Miller’s Stand at Madison Square Garden
In the first two meetings of three consecutive playoff matchups, the Knicks got the better of the Pacers, winning 3-1 in 1993 and 4-3 in 1994. The heated rivalry reached its boiling point during the 1995 NBA Playoffs, with the teams operating with similar philosophies. While the Knicks ranked second in the NBA in points allowed, the Pacers ranked fourth. The difference in points allowed was a minuscule 0.4 points per game. While both teams looked sharp, they faced challenges from teams in the East such as the popular top-ranked Magic, the unretired Michael Jordan-led Bulls, and the top-ranked defense Cleveland Cavaliers.
1994-1995 Indiana Pacers
The Pacers continued to develop a championship-caliber team, trading Pooh Richardson, Malik Sealy, and draft pick Eric Piatkowski to the Los Angeles Clippers for Mark Jackson and Greg Minor. Jackson had previously been the Knicks’ starting point guard for five years before being sent to the Clippers. After adding bench players Duane Ferrell and John “Hot Plate” Williams, the rest of the Pacers team remained intact. With Miller, Jackson, and Hall of Fame Coach Brown leading the way, with future NBA Head Coaches Byron Scott and Sam Mitchell as key bench players, the Pacers were ready to pass the Knicks as a premier team in the East. The Pacers finished 52-30 to win the Central Division and claim the second seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers then swept the Hawks 3-0 to put themselves in position to face the Knicks for a third straight season.
1994-1995 New York Knicks
For the second straight season, the Knicks aimed to keep the same roster intact. Rookie Monty Williams found a spot in the rotation at times due to injury, while rookie Charlie Ward and third-year swingman Doug Christie found themselves on the bottom of the Knicks’ roster depth chart. Early in the season, the Knicks released Doc Rivers, who had basically been replaced by Derek Harper due to injury in 1993-1994. Despite the loss of Rivers, the Knicks maintained well-balanced scoring, with six players averaging double figures during the season with a seventh (Anthony Mason) averaging 9.9 points per game. The Knicks took the East’s third seed despite finishing with a record of 55-27. The Knicks won a hard fought series versus the Cavaliers 3-1, including a two-point Game 3 victory that ended with the Cavaliers missing a three-pointer at the buzzer. With their series victory over Cleveland, the Knicks were ready to face the Pacers in the playoffs for a third straight season.
1995 NBA Playoffs
Although the Pacers clinched the East’s second seed by winning the Central Division, the Knicks held the better regular season record. Therefore, for the third straight season, the Knicks held home court advantage over the Pacers in the playoffs. In the previous two series, the Knicks capitalized on home court advantage in order to win the first two games of the series.
Game 1 of the 1995 Playoffs between the Knicks and the Pacers looked like it was going to follow in the same trend. While a balanced Knicks offense had produced seven scorers in double figures, the Pacers were led by Rik Smits’ 34 points. Miller had managed to score 23 points on 5-16 field goal shooting, including 1-5 from behind the three-point line; Miller had made 12 of 13 free throws to make up for the poor shooting. Regardless, with less than 20 seconds remaining, the Knicks held a 105-99 lead.
However, it was Miller’s 25-point 4th quarter performance from Game 5 in 1994 that would foreshadow what would happen in the final seconds of Game 1 in 1995. In one of the rawest NBA Playoff performances in history, Miller tied the game with two three-pointers in about 3 seconds. After hitting a three-pointer to cut the deficit to three points, Reggie Miller stole the inbounds pass, took a dribble to get back behind the three-point line, and made another three-point shot to tie the game. When Starks missed two free throws and Ewing missed a second chance opportunity, Miller got the ball and hit two free throws to give the Pacers a 107-105 Game 1 victory.
The Knicks and their fans—including Miller’s rival, director Spike Lee—were stunned. In fact, the Knicks would never fully recover. After the Knicks won a blowout victory as vengeance in Game 2, the Pacers rallied to win the next two games in Indianapolis—including a comeback from 10 down in Game 3. In order to force a decisive Game 7, the Knicks had to win Games 5 and 6, which they did. Then, the Knicks were forced to recover from a 15-point deficit in Game 7. Although the Knicks made the comeback and Ewing matched Miller point by point, Ewing validated Miller’s taunts of “choke artists” to the Knicks at the end of Game 1 by missing a layup in the closing seconds of Game 7 that would have forced overtime.
The Pacers would fall to the Magic in the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals 4-3, with the home team winning every game. Miller was held to 12 points in the 24-point Game 7 loss, while each of the 5 starters for Orlando scored at least 12 points. The Magic, in turn, would get swept in the 1995 Finals by the Houston Rockets—who had edged the Knicks in the previous Finals.
Although Larry Brown would not see much more success as Head Coach of the Pacers, the Pacers would continue to build on the foundation established during the Knicks-Pacers rivalry in its quest to win the NBA Championship. Similarly, Pat Riley would see his time end as Head Coach of the Knicks. However, the Knicks team that Riley would leave behind would continue to change its look in its quest to win the NBA Championship.
Part IV: The Aftermath of a Playoff Rivalry
While Reggie Miller’s heroics took place in the opening game, they laid the foundation for the end of the Pat Riley era for the Knicks. The Pacers won Game 7, 97-95, as Patrick Ewing essentially missed a layup.
Building the 1999 New York Knicks
Pat Riley promptly resigned as Coach of the Knicks, moving on to coach and manage the Miami Heat. Don Nelson took over for Riley, resigning during his first season as Coach of the Knicks, paving the way for Jeff Van Gundy to become the Head Coach of the next championship contending Knicks team.
In the course of a few years, Anthony Mason was traded for Larry Johnson, Charles Oakley was traded for Marcus Camby, and John Starks was traded for Latrell Sprewell. Charles Smith and Hubert Davis were also traded, Derek Harper was released, and Greg Anthony was lost to the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1995 Expansion Draft. To join Larry Johnson, Marcus Camby, and Latrell Sprewell, the Knicks signed free agents Chris Childs, Allan Houston, and Kurt Thomas. As a result, the Knicks team that played in the 1999 NBA Finals consisted of a much different core. Only Patrick Ewing, Charlie Ward, and Herb Williams remained from the Knicks team that lost to the Pacers in the 1995 playoffs.
Building the 2000 Indiana Pacers
However, much of the Pacers team was still intact when they made it to the 2000 NBA Finals. Reggie Miller, Rik Smits, Dale Davis, Mark Jackson, and Derrick McKey remained core players for the Pacers between 1995 and 2000. Jackson was absent for about one year due to a trade to the Denver Nuggets in order to acquire combo guard Jalen Rose, who was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 1999-2000. Other key additions to the lineup included draft picks Travis Best and Austin Croshere and veterans Sam Perkins and Chris Mullin. Antonio Davis was traded for rookie project Jonathan Bender, who joined rookie acquisition Jeff Foster and draft pick Al Harrington as developmental players under 1997-1998 NBA Coach of the Year Larry Bird.
Closing Thoughts: New York Knicks & Indiana Pacers 1999-2010
Oddly enough, while the Knicks defeated Pat Riley’s Miami Heat in both the 1999 and 2000 Playoffs, the Pacers edged out Pat Riley’s Miami Heat for the top seed in the Eastern Conference and eliminated the Knicks en route to the NBA Finals in 2000. Unfortunately for the Knicks and the Pacers, two teams from the Western Conference stepped up to become the best teams of the decade. The Knicks fell to the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 NBA Finals, while the Pacers fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2000 NBA Finals.
After the firing of Jeff Van Gundy in 2001-2002, the Knicks have not had another winning season heading into the 2010-2011 season. The failure to qualify for the 2002 Playoffs ended a streak of fourteen consecutive playoff appearances for the Knicks. The Knicks did manage to make the 2004
Playoffs with a record of 39-43, with Don Chaney, Herb Williams, and Lenny Wilkens all serving as Head Coach during the 2003-2004 season.
Meanwhile, the Pacers made the playoffs for six additional consecutive seasons after Larry Bird resigned as Head Coach, for a total of nine consecutive playoff appearances. However, after Coach Isiah Thomas was unable to lead the Pacers out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs in three seasons, Bird returned to the Pacers’ front office, replacing Thomas with Coach Rick Carlisle. The Pacers have not had a winning season since 2004-2005 heading into the 2010-2011 season, finishing with a .500 record in their last playoff appearance in 2006.
Sources:
Basketball-Reference.com. Accessed December 18, 2010.
Brown, Clifton. “1995 NBA Playoffs: The Knicks’ Quest for Glory Bounces Off the Back of the Rim.” The New York Times. May 22, 1995. From NYTimes.com. Accessed December 18, 2010.
Weinberg, Rick. “90: Reggie Miller Scores 8 points in 11 seconds.” ESPN 25. From ESPN.com. Accessed December 18, 2010.
“Where Legends Are Born: Reggie Miller.” April 28, 2005. NBA.com. Accessed December 18, 2010.
In 1992-1993, both the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks retooled their rosters in order to challenge the Chicago Bulls for the NBA Championship. After a first round loss in the 1993 Playoffs, the Pacers caught up to the Knicks to compete for the Eastern Conference’s bid for the 1994 Finals. In 1995, the tide turned as Reggie Miller scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds to lead the Pacers to a Game 1 comeback win and series win over the Knicks. The three-year playoff rivalry between the Knicks and Pacers laid the foundation for the Pacers and led to the reshaping of the Knicks.
Part I: 1993 NBA Playoffs
The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks developed a heated rivalry when they met in the playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 1993 to 1995. While the Knicks were seen as a legitimate championship contender, the Pacers were trying to emerge from a second tier of playoff teams. In the span of three years, Reggie Miller helped the Pacers to become an NBA Championship contender at the expense of the Knicks.
1992-1993 Indiana Pacers
A year after finishing 40-42 and getting swept by the fading Boston Celtics in 1992, the Pacers finished 41-41 in their last season under Head Coach Bob Hill. While Miller, Rik Smits, and Detlef Schrempf remained core players for Indiana, the team traded former Rookie of the Year Chuck Person and starting point guard Michael Williams to the Minnesota Timberwolves for point guard Pooh Richardson and forward Sam Mitchell. Former starting point guard Vern Fleming continued to take a reduced role in the Pacers lineup, while young forward Dale Davis took his place in the starting lineup. Other contributors included George McCloud, LaSalle Thompson, Malik Sealy, Kenny Williams, and Greg Dreiling.
1992-1993 New York Knicks
Meanwhile, New York had an exciting playoff run in 1992. The Knicks defeated Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons 3-2 in the first round of the 1992 NBA Playoffs. Then, the Knicks took Michael Jordan and the defending NBA Champion Chicago Bulls to a decisive Game 7, falling in the series 4-3. With Greg Anthony ready to take on a bigger role in the lineup, the Knicks traded starting point guard Mark Jackson to the Los Angeles Clippers, landing veteran guard Doc Rivers and forward Charles Smith. While the Knicks lost key contributors Xavier McDaniel, Gerald Wilkins, and Kiki Vandeweghe, they added veterans Rolando Blackman, Tony Campbell, and Herb Williams and rookie guard Hubert Davis to support a core group of Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, John Starks, and Anthony Mason.
1993 Playoffs
The Knicks entered the playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 60-22. This qualified as the second-best record in the NBA, behind only the Phoenix Suns and ahead of the defending champion Bulls. On the other hand, the Pacers finished 41-41, edging out the Orlando Magic for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference by virtue of winning a tie-breaker.
Needless to say, the Knicks were heavily favored when they met the Pacers in the first round of the 1993 NBA Playoffs. While Miller averaged 31.5 points and three others (Smits – 22.5, Schrempf – 19.5, and Fleming – 10.0) averaged double-digits in scoring, the Knicks’ top-ranked defense limited any other offensive output from the Pacers’ lineup. Indiana's next highest scorer in the series was George McCloud at 4.8 points per game. In the closeout Game 4, the Knicks had five players score in double figures, with four posting double-doubles: Ewing, 28 points & 13 rebounds; Mason, 25 points & 10 rebounds; Oakley, 13 points & 13 rebounds; and Rivers, 21 points and 11 assists. Despite big Game 4 performances from the Pacers by Miller, Schrempf, and Smits, the top-ranked New York Knicks defeated the eighth seed Indiana Pacers in the first round 3-1.
After defeating the Charlotte Hornets 4-1 in the second round, the Knicks would win the first two games of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals against the Bulls, only to lose the next four in a row as Michael Jordan and the Bulls marched to their third consecutive NBA Championship. While Knicks Coach Pat Riley prepared for another championship run in the following season, Pacers Coach Bob Hill—who had coached the team for about 2 ½ seasons—left the franchise in position to experience more success in the coming years.
Part II: Rematch in the 1994 Playoffs
In 1993-1994, the Pacers and Knicks found themselves amidst the top of the Eastern Conference as the Bulls chased after a fourth consecutive NBA Championship without retired superstar Michael Jordan. Despite the addition of international star Toni Kukoc, many analysts and fans saw this season as the year that the Knicks and their top-ranked defense would finally get past the Bulls en route to the NBA Finals. At the same time, the Pacers made strides to becoming a championship contender under new Head Coach Larry Brown. Sacrificing some scoring in order to play better defense, the Pacers finished the 1993-1994 NBA season ranked eighth in points allowed per game. This eventually set the stage for a second consecutive playoff matchup between the Pacers and Knicks and the beginning of Reggie Miller’s clutch play in New York.
1993-1994 Indiana Pacers
In addition to hiring Brown as Head Coach, the Pacers traded former Sixth Man of the Year and All-Star forward Detlef Schrempf for forward Derrick McKey. While Schrempf was more of a standout as an offensive player, McKey—a decent scorer in his own right—was more highly regarded on the defensive end of the court, eventually earning All-NBA Defensive Second Team status in 1995 and 1996. Meanwhile, veteran guard Byron Scott joined the Pacers after winning two NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. In addition, guard Haywoode Workman—another player known for his defensive play—returned to the NBA after a three-year absence, while rookie forward Antonio Davis also joined the Pacers rotation. The team improved to 47-35 and claimed the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed in the 1994 NBA Playoffs. After upsetting Shaquille O’Neal and the fourth seed Magic 3-0 in the first round, the Pacers upset the top-ranked Atlanta Hawks and NBA Coach of the Year Lenny Wilkens 4-2 in the second round of the playoffs.
1993-1994 New York Knicks
Sensing an NBA Championship within reach, the Knicks made minimal moves in the offseason, only adding reserve forward Anthony Bonner to the rotation. However, 19 games into the season, Doc Rivers suffered a season-ending injury. To fill the hole, the Knicks sent Tony Campbell and a draft pick to the Dallas Mavericks for starting point guard Derek Harper, who was a former All-Defensive Second Team member. Harper fit both the offensive and defensive schemes of Coach Riley, eventually replacing Greg Anthony as the starting point guard in New York.
At 57-25, the Knicks lost a tie-breaker to the Hawks and claimed the Eastern Conference’s second seed in the playoffs. After defeating the seventh seed New Jersey Nets 3-1 in the first round, the Knicks faced a rematch with another rival, the Bulls. After winning the first two games of the series by 4 points and 5 points, the Knicks had to overcome a potential series-changing game-winning shot by Toni Kukoc in Game 3 to win the series 4-3, setting up a rematch with the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals
1994 Eastern Conference Finals
Although the Knicks had won 10 more games than the Pacers during the 1993-1994 season, the Pacers’ impressive series wins over the Magic and Hawks made this a more even matchup. However, home court advantage proved to be beneficial to the Knicks as they won each of the first two games in New York by 11 points. The Pacers responded by winning Game 3 by 20 points and Game 4 by 6 points, setting up a pivotal Game 5.
Led by Miller’s 39 points, including 25 points in the 4th quarter, the Pacers upset the Knicks at Madison Square Garden to win a third consecutive game and take a 3-2 series lead. However, John Starks stepped up to score 26 points against Miller’s 27 points in Game 6, while Patrick Ewing put together an amazing Game 7 with 24 points, 22 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, and 1 steal to help the Knicks take the series 4-3.
In the 1994 Finals, the Knicks would have another close series as they competed with the Houston Rockets for the NBA Championship. At one point, the Knicks took a 3-2 series lead. However, the Rockets capitalized on their own home court advantage in winning the final two games by 2 points and 6 points to clinch the NBA Championship.
Just one win away from winning the championship, expectations around the NBA remained high for the Knicks to challenge in the upcoming season. However, the 1994 NBA Finals appearance would be the only one during Pat Riley’s tenure as Head Coach.
Part III: Reggie Miller’s Stand at Madison Square Garden
In the first two meetings of three consecutive playoff matchups, the Knicks got the better of the Pacers, winning 3-1 in 1993 and 4-3 in 1994. The heated rivalry reached its boiling point during the 1995 NBA Playoffs, with the teams operating with similar philosophies. While the Knicks ranked second in the NBA in points allowed, the Pacers ranked fourth. The difference in points allowed was a minuscule 0.4 points per game. While both teams looked sharp, they faced challenges from teams in the East such as the popular top-ranked Magic, the unretired Michael Jordan-led Bulls, and the top-ranked defense Cleveland Cavaliers.
1994-1995 Indiana Pacers
The Pacers continued to develop a championship-caliber team, trading Pooh Richardson, Malik Sealy, and draft pick Eric Piatkowski to the Los Angeles Clippers for Mark Jackson and Greg Minor. Jackson had previously been the Knicks’ starting point guard for five years before being sent to the Clippers. After adding bench players Duane Ferrell and John “Hot Plate” Williams, the rest of the Pacers team remained intact. With Miller, Jackson, and Hall of Fame Coach Brown leading the way, with future NBA Head Coaches Byron Scott and Sam Mitchell as key bench players, the Pacers were ready to pass the Knicks as a premier team in the East. The Pacers finished 52-30 to win the Central Division and claim the second seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers then swept the Hawks 3-0 to put themselves in position to face the Knicks for a third straight season.
1994-1995 New York Knicks
For the second straight season, the Knicks aimed to keep the same roster intact. Rookie Monty Williams found a spot in the rotation at times due to injury, while rookie Charlie Ward and third-year swingman Doug Christie found themselves on the bottom of the Knicks’ roster depth chart. Early in the season, the Knicks released Doc Rivers, who had basically been replaced by Derek Harper due to injury in 1993-1994. Despite the loss of Rivers, the Knicks maintained well-balanced scoring, with six players averaging double figures during the season with a seventh (Anthony Mason) averaging 9.9 points per game. The Knicks took the East’s third seed despite finishing with a record of 55-27. The Knicks won a hard fought series versus the Cavaliers 3-1, including a two-point Game 3 victory that ended with the Cavaliers missing a three-pointer at the buzzer. With their series victory over Cleveland, the Knicks were ready to face the Pacers in the playoffs for a third straight season.
1995 NBA Playoffs
Although the Pacers clinched the East’s second seed by winning the Central Division, the Knicks held the better regular season record. Therefore, for the third straight season, the Knicks held home court advantage over the Pacers in the playoffs. In the previous two series, the Knicks capitalized on home court advantage in order to win the first two games of the series.
Game 1 of the 1995 Playoffs between the Knicks and the Pacers looked like it was going to follow in the same trend. While a balanced Knicks offense had produced seven scorers in double figures, the Pacers were led by Rik Smits’ 34 points. Miller had managed to score 23 points on 5-16 field goal shooting, including 1-5 from behind the three-point line; Miller had made 12 of 13 free throws to make up for the poor shooting. Regardless, with less than 20 seconds remaining, the Knicks held a 105-99 lead.
However, it was Miller’s 25-point 4th quarter performance from Game 5 in 1994 that would foreshadow what would happen in the final seconds of Game 1 in 1995. In one of the rawest NBA Playoff performances in history, Miller tied the game with two three-pointers in about 3 seconds. After hitting a three-pointer to cut the deficit to three points, Reggie Miller stole the inbounds pass, took a dribble to get back behind the three-point line, and made another three-point shot to tie the game. When Starks missed two free throws and Ewing missed a second chance opportunity, Miller got the ball and hit two free throws to give the Pacers a 107-105 Game 1 victory.
The Knicks and their fans—including Miller’s rival, director Spike Lee—were stunned. In fact, the Knicks would never fully recover. After the Knicks won a blowout victory as vengeance in Game 2, the Pacers rallied to win the next two games in Indianapolis—including a comeback from 10 down in Game 3. In order to force a decisive Game 7, the Knicks had to win Games 5 and 6, which they did. Then, the Knicks were forced to recover from a 15-point deficit in Game 7. Although the Knicks made the comeback and Ewing matched Miller point by point, Ewing validated Miller’s taunts of “choke artists” to the Knicks at the end of Game 1 by missing a layup in the closing seconds of Game 7 that would have forced overtime.
The Pacers would fall to the Magic in the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals 4-3, with the home team winning every game. Miller was held to 12 points in the 24-point Game 7 loss, while each of the 5 starters for Orlando scored at least 12 points. The Magic, in turn, would get swept in the 1995 Finals by the Houston Rockets—who had edged the Knicks in the previous Finals.
Although Larry Brown would not see much more success as Head Coach of the Pacers, the Pacers would continue to build on the foundation established during the Knicks-Pacers rivalry in its quest to win the NBA Championship. Similarly, Pat Riley would see his time end as Head Coach of the Knicks. However, the Knicks team that Riley would leave behind would continue to change its look in its quest to win the NBA Championship.
Part IV: The Aftermath of a Playoff Rivalry
While Reggie Miller’s heroics took place in the opening game, they laid the foundation for the end of the Pat Riley era for the Knicks. The Pacers won Game 7, 97-95, as Patrick Ewing essentially missed a layup.
Building the 1999 New York Knicks
Pat Riley promptly resigned as Coach of the Knicks, moving on to coach and manage the Miami Heat. Don Nelson took over for Riley, resigning during his first season as Coach of the Knicks, paving the way for Jeff Van Gundy to become the Head Coach of the next championship contending Knicks team.
In the course of a few years, Anthony Mason was traded for Larry Johnson, Charles Oakley was traded for Marcus Camby, and John Starks was traded for Latrell Sprewell. Charles Smith and Hubert Davis were also traded, Derek Harper was released, and Greg Anthony was lost to the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1995 Expansion Draft. To join Larry Johnson, Marcus Camby, and Latrell Sprewell, the Knicks signed free agents Chris Childs, Allan Houston, and Kurt Thomas. As a result, the Knicks team that played in the 1999 NBA Finals consisted of a much different core. Only Patrick Ewing, Charlie Ward, and Herb Williams remained from the Knicks team that lost to the Pacers in the 1995 playoffs.
Building the 2000 Indiana Pacers
However, much of the Pacers team was still intact when they made it to the 2000 NBA Finals. Reggie Miller, Rik Smits, Dale Davis, Mark Jackson, and Derrick McKey remained core players for the Pacers between 1995 and 2000. Jackson was absent for about one year due to a trade to the Denver Nuggets in order to acquire combo guard Jalen Rose, who was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 1999-2000. Other key additions to the lineup included draft picks Travis Best and Austin Croshere and veterans Sam Perkins and Chris Mullin. Antonio Davis was traded for rookie project Jonathan Bender, who joined rookie acquisition Jeff Foster and draft pick Al Harrington as developmental players under 1997-1998 NBA Coach of the Year Larry Bird.
Closing Thoughts: New York Knicks & Indiana Pacers 1999-2010
Oddly enough, while the Knicks defeated Pat Riley’s Miami Heat in both the 1999 and 2000 Playoffs, the Pacers edged out Pat Riley’s Miami Heat for the top seed in the Eastern Conference and eliminated the Knicks en route to the NBA Finals in 2000. Unfortunately for the Knicks and the Pacers, two teams from the Western Conference stepped up to become the best teams of the decade. The Knicks fell to the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 NBA Finals, while the Pacers fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2000 NBA Finals.
After the firing of Jeff Van Gundy in 2001-2002, the Knicks have not had another winning season heading into the 2010-2011 season. The failure to qualify for the 2002 Playoffs ended a streak of fourteen consecutive playoff appearances for the Knicks. The Knicks did manage to make the 2004
Playoffs with a record of 39-43, with Don Chaney, Herb Williams, and Lenny Wilkens all serving as Head Coach during the 2003-2004 season.
Meanwhile, the Pacers made the playoffs for six additional consecutive seasons after Larry Bird resigned as Head Coach, for a total of nine consecutive playoff appearances. However, after Coach Isiah Thomas was unable to lead the Pacers out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs in three seasons, Bird returned to the Pacers’ front office, replacing Thomas with Coach Rick Carlisle. The Pacers have not had a winning season since 2004-2005 heading into the 2010-2011 season, finishing with a .500 record in their last playoff appearance in 2006.
Sources:
Basketball-Reference.com. Accessed December 18, 2010.
Brown, Clifton. “1995 NBA Playoffs: The Knicks’ Quest for Glory Bounces Off the Back of the Rim.” The New York Times. May 22, 1995. From NYTimes.com. Accessed December 18, 2010.
Weinberg, Rick. “90: Reggie Miller Scores 8 points in 11 seconds.” ESPN 25. From ESPN.com. Accessed December 18, 2010.
“Where Legends Are Born: Reggie Miller.” April 28, 2005. NBA.com. Accessed December 18, 2010.