May 3, 1992 - '"Beat them,'" Bill Laimbeer said. '"Play them the way you played us."
A year removed from the infamous decision to bypass the handshake line with the Chicago Bulls following Michael Jordan's comments prior to their series finale (“The Pistons are undeserving champions,” Jordan said following Game 3. “The Bad Boys are bad for basketball."), Bill Laimbeer and the Detroit Pistons made a point to meet with the New York Knicks in the tunnel at Madison Square Garden following the Knicks' series-ending 94-87 win.
Like the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals between the Bulls and Pistons, the Knicks-Pistons series in 1992 was contentious. However, perhaps learning from his previous missteps, or perhaps making a point that respect is a two-way street, Laimbeer seemed intent on making a point to shake hands with Pat Riley and company.
Per the New York Times:
It turned out that, after five grueling games, the Pistons had little dislike or resentment for the Knicks. They were proud to shake their hands of fellow gladiators, real men who were eager to trade elbows, shoves and stares. The Pistons could at least relate to the Knicks, unlike the jet-setting, high-flying Jordan, his tongue dangling at outclassed opponents below. After losing Game 5 on Sunday, the Pistons acted as if they'd been given a whipping by kid brothers who'd grown up bigger and stronger than them.
"We created a style of play and kind of got beat by the style we advocated ourselves," said Thomas. "The Knicks were too big and physical."
NY Times Article: www.nytimes.co...
7 сен 2024
