I have been a New York Knicks fan since 1976.
12 years-old rooting for Ticky Burden, Mo Layton, Mel “Killer” Davis from St. John’s University. Clyde Frazier, Earl Monroe, Phil Jackson, Bob McAdoo and Dean Meminger. They were coached by Red Holzman.
On Christmas night of that year my brother John and I attended the Knicks-Philadelphia 76ers game at Madison Square Garden. It was Julius Erving’s first game as a Sixer in New York City. Knicks lost by 1.
Fast forward 48 years later, this morning I woke up with some serious anxiety. It’s been building up since Friday night when the Indiana Pacers beat the Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
I was juiced up for Game 7 today. 3:30. ABC. From MSG. Been looking forward to this one.
Joe Lee, my childhood friend wanted me to come back for the game. Instead I watched from my living room, 800 miles away.
The celebrities were hanging on 33rd and 7th; Christopher Meloni, Steve Schirripa, Tracy Morgan, John McEnroe, Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Fat Joe, Travis Scott, Jon Stewart and a few ex-Knicks including Frazier.
Winner goes to the Eastern Conference Finals – New York has not been there since 2000.
I even listened to Stephen A. Smith on pre-game. He was trying to hype up the Knicks. It was actually pretty good.
But today just wasn’t New York’s day. I was worried when all three guys on the pre-game show picked the Knicks to win.
Pacers scored 39 points in the first quarter, Knicks were down 12.
OG Anunoby tried to pull a Willis Reed. He made his first two shots of the game just like the Captain in Game 7 against the Lakers in 1970.
At the half Pacers were up 15. I wasn’t feeling a Knicks comeback. Indiana made 29 of their 38 shots.
OG left the game, never to return. He played 4 minutes.
In the third quarter Knicks cut the lead to 6. Wait. A New York Rangers comeback? I normally don’t cheer or yell at the television screen but today I was. Just like the fans at the Garden.
“COME ON, GET A STOP!” I shouted.
But the Pacers didn’t give in. They have too many weapons. They held on. There would be no comeback for the ages.
Pacers led the league in scoring this year (123 points per game) and today they were in control the entire game, winning 130-109. They shot lights out. 67% from the field – the highest percentage ever in a playoff game in league history. How about this; Indiana made 17 more field goals than the Knicks and took 6 less shots.
The Garden was rockin’ all day – like it normally does. They call it “The Mecca.” But New York is banged up. Too many guys hurt. They gave it their best shot.
New York didn’t guard the ball well. Pacers put a lot of pressure on Jalen Brunson throughout the series. They swarmed him. They chased him all over the court. He got the “Caitlin Clark” treatment. The Villanova Wildcat shot 6-17 for 17 points and had 9 assists. And wouldn’t you know it, late in the third quarter Brunson fractured his hand.
Donte DiVincenzo led the Knicks with 39 points, including 9-15 from deep.
Alex Burks came off the bench for the Knicks and scored 26 points in 27 minutes.
Isaiah Hartenstein was held scoreless in 29 minutes.
Deuce McBride was 0-6 from deep.
Role players stepped up for Indiana. Especially TJ McConnell.
Pacers had 33 assists. And they won the rebounding game.
JJ Redick was great on the telecast. Someone should hire him as head coach. Doris Burke as usual tells us what we just witnessed.
It was a great run for the Knickerbockers. They were running on fumes since Game 2. I have never seen a team in the playoffs be so depleted with injuries like the Knicks.
It’s going to take a few days to get over this one. Knicks went up 2-0 in the series and had a 9 point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 3.
The number 6-seeded Pacers move on to the Eastern Conference Finals to take on the number 1-seeded Boston Celtics.
Wait till next year…