80s, 90s basketball was just a superior product! Period. I feel like the game would be just as popular if they had kept things as they were. I loved have the scores in the upper 80s, low 90s. You could actually play real defense! And the rivalries were REAL!!! Lakers-Celtics, Celtics-Pistons, Pistons-Bulls, Bulls-Knicks, Knicks-Heat lol still laughing at Van Gundy grabbing Mornings legs!! lol I honestly cannot think of any real rivalries in todays NBA.....smh. And what made players start wanting to play together as opposed to playing against each other???? Oh well.....
I miss the white socks & black hi-tops, man-to-man defenses, hand-checking, teams with real actual identities. Bball was personal in them days. Only a small percentage of squads carried on that legacy. Defensively the past few yrs we had The mid-2000s Pistons, Spurs, & in the 2010s my Grit & Grind Grizzlies with Tony Allen locking up KD. Outside of that....idk.
@@chrisuncleahmad if u think only Jordan could score in the 90s then u obviously didn't watch the 90s. In fact ur just another nba2k playing, RU-vid highlights watching, nba reference stat line reading, and analytical tracking fan boy who knows absolutely nothing about basketball lol. Nba2k is not reality fella lol. Also everybody can score the difference is each possession u earned ur shot whereas in this offensive friendly era there is no resistance to scoring. Lebum can literally lower his shoulders and drive to the basket without NO true center or enforcer power forward there waiting on him. Go study up fella
I don’t think any NBA superstar today besides Cousin, Green or Lebron would survive the physicality of this series. This was when men played basketball.
Dude that 90s defense was ruthless. They straight up knocked you out if you drove to the lane. That's ridiculous toughness by Jordan and his undersized team.
LeBron did face some tough defenses especially in the early stages of his career. You can't even try to disrespect what that man has done. Steph however, he would get bitched.
no way lebron would be able to handle that sort of defense. although he's demonstrated that he's a skilled athlete, he simply doesn't have the mindset to handle contact. he bitches waaay to often to be taken seriously and with respect.
+\/ibestr knock it off with that LeBron wouldn't be able to handle it stuff, if he grew up playing in the 70s and 80s like these guys then he would have no choice but to be adjusted to this kind of play
I’m crying watching this! This is why I fell in luv with NBA basketball. The passion, the intensity, the competitiveness-its all missing in today’s game!
I love how people say these Knicks teams were OK and didn't win championships. This Knicks team would beat any team in the NBA right now with real NBA rules, not this powder puff garbage today. Only reason they didn't win was because they were against one of the greatest teams of all time and the greatest player of all time.
You're wrong. Down low they'd utterly dominate and I'd take Starks/Anthony/Childs over Cole and Chalmers any day. All they need to do is attack Lebron and they win. Ewing would probably average 40/20.
They wouldn't be able to contain LeBron and Wade. Ewing would have a field day, but he would be the only one. The new Heat probably never faced a team that tough, but the Knicks definitely never faced a team this fast and athletic. Both Wade and LeBron have faced some tough teams in their careers.
Ian Rivera They'd have zero problems with Wade, Lebron would be the problem but with previous rules, they'd be able to do a lot more with him physically. Today's rules really don't allow for defences to negate the physical advantages Lebron has over every player who guards him.
Jason Rose Zero problems with Wade?? They only guard they ever faced that was better than Wade was MJ, and we all see how that went. Those old rules go both ways too. Lebron and Wade would also be allowed to be more physical defenders if they played back then.
They only hear about 24/7/365 🙄and there was a thing called the Last Dance that promoted Jordan’s greatness. Young people still know all about Jordan’s greatness
LeBron and Kobe both have amazing skill sets that put them in the convo with Jordan, but for me what will always put Jordan way ahead, is the era he was in...the NBA was tough as nails back then...you were allowed to not like another guy and go at it..and Jordan wasn't no punk either...he would hit you...he would get in your face and tell you how he killing you...and then kill you again..Today's NBA to worried about their twitter followers and ish
Dude, today's nba players are faster, bigger, stronger. Stop saying stupid shit about how it was more physical back then, sure it was more physical but the defenders then couldn't defend hence why they were physical, now we have actual defenders
Steven Bun ^People really like to make up bullshit like that. I just gonna drop this and end it here: todays NBA rules caters to offense and limits the defense, so your favorite players could drive-by more easily "making the game more entertaining".
while that is true its also hard to compare, the guys the lebron is matched up against night in night out are more athletic than guys back then, stronger and to be honest he takes just as many hard hits and what not in his stride as just part of the game. kobe Bryant? please, he isn't in the conversation, he isn't even close.
***** jordan plays dirty? ahaha no just no... lebron cant even handle double team with in your face defense... jordan always been triple teamed... with more tenacious defense and still would drop 30-40 everynight.
i think lebron would toughen up if he had to. he flops and gets every call so he doesn't have to. i think he is one of the few players that would survive the treacherousness of the 90's era. not sure how tough he is so im not even sure if he'd be a starter but as big and solid built as he is he should do alright. of course he wouldn't have half the name he has today tho. as far as for most others i doubt they'd even be in the league
This was one of the most physically contested rivalries in all of sports, i enjoy watching some of the nba players now but i miss this era of the nba no ticky tac fouls they played hard for every win back then.
Bullsfan2008DR Lebron Didn't kobe played in michaels era for a bit so he could see how it was. Kobe in his prime got double if not rippled teamed alot so i think Kobe could handle lebron would bitch and complain to the refs and flop off the ceiling.
To anybody that calls the Warriors & Cavaliers a rivalry... no. THIS was a rivalry. 2 teams that wanted to knock each other's blocks off. Nowadays between games you got players texting each other making plans which team they're going to play together on next year. Back then between games players just couldn't wait to get back out there & do battle. Ahh, the good old days
The Eastern Conference in this era was so damn beastified, Chicago, New York, Detroit, Indiana, Boston and Miami were all great, physical teams with Hall of Fame players on them all. Awesome times!
3:03 It's so emotional to hear MJ talk about how he sought his father's advice on how to deal with the Knicks. It's very clear that he was so important in his life and so sad knowing what would happen to him just a few years later.
As a kid growing up these Knicks Bulls series completely shaped my bball mindset. Play tough, play like a man or go home. Players now a days think they physical, this was and will always be the greatest bball generation imo.
Whenever I watch this, I feel like I could run through a god damn brick wall. Ever since childhood. This specific section of the VHS. Standing up to the Thug Knicks
Starks, Mason, Oakley, Jackson, Ewing, McDaniel...they were a brutal team and definitely a team to beat. I honestly think that if I wasn't a die-hard Bulls fan, I would've liked the Knicks. All those teams back then had tough players. The Sonics had Kemp, Payton, Schrempf, McMillan, Perkins...the Magic had Penny, Shaq, Anderson, (and Skiles haha).
This might as well have been the finals. Knicks would have won it if they'd gotten by the Bulls. This was a hell of a clash, just a monster series. Guts and talent and wearing each other down. Really fun to watch. Doesn't seem like the NBA is this intense and exciting today.
Lance J. Knicks never had the same team, Thue always changed players throughout the 90s , the only consistency was Ewing, Starks, and Oakley, and Mason. They always had role players that were there for a couple of years like Xavier McDaniel left in 1992, Greg Anthony left mid 90s , Doc rivers was only there for a year, Anthony mason, etc... but Patrick Ewing was the staple point of their toughness.
All that sequence from 3:59 when he splits the double team, down to 4:15 when he's signaling his team to calm the f*ck down after the chase-down strip... That's probably my most favorite MJ moment ever.
+Chris Brown What I love about it is the strength and balance. Two guys hit him, not even making a play on the ball, and yet those guys end up on the floor, not Jordan.
"People are starting to forget that when I play basketball, I don't play conservatively. I play all out. I feel that I'm the leader of the ball crowd, so I can't say that I'm trying to play and conserve 28 minutes so that by the end of the ball season I'll be better rested. I'm all out." - Michael Jordan.
Wow this brings back memories. This was the NBA at its best. Those Knicks vs Bulls,Knicks vs Pacers and Knicks vs Heat rivalries were the real deal, these teams went at it for real. As a Knick fan i must say my respects to MJ he really made it tough for us Knick fans to enjoy a Championship. Just one MJ could you at least have given us one.
Best rivalry in basketball in the 90s .... This is when the Knicks were fun to watch. Too bad basketball isn't like this anymore and probably never will
Soujiro Seta let's just say I appreciate something you don't appreciate. But it's never easy to play physical. Being physical doesn't mean more fights or playing like a boxer. Nice performance in a fiercer situation is more valuable and harder. More flopping, less muscle and weaker centers is nba nowadays.
+newenergy the showtime Lakers' strategy was built around a fast paced transition game but don't confuse that with a finesse game Have you seen footage of Lakers vs Celtics games back in the 80s?
gallardorsq Having the worst record is by design. Jahlil Okafor lottery, here we come! We'll get back to respectability soon as we get Okafor & star FA next season. You'll see!
Verse Arcane Kaminsky is good but no lottery team will select him with a top 3 pick much less #1 overall. Karl Anthony Towns will also be A OK if the Knicks cop him. Plays better D than Okafor & a far superior FT shooter (81%) than Okafor's 51%. I hope Knicks cop Towns.
I remember this series very well. This Knicks team was very good and tough as nails. Played great defense and was physical. Probably the toughest challenge to this Bulls dynasty. I know the Pacers series us the only other one to go to 7 games but the Knicks were up 2-0 and came close to ending this dynasty.
Wow, as a Lakers fan and only 20(Born in '92) To see Phil Jackson this energetic is awesome. Zen Master wasn't always Zen. And 90's basketball was always great to watch. 2010's basketball is just a big headache now.
After those brutal wars with the Pistons it seems once we were finally able to vanquish them & win the title we thought it would be a cakewalk like Rocky did after beating Apollo... but the Knicks were Clubber Lang!! A devastating & ferocious challenger that emerged from the shadows & beat us senseless but ultimately wound up simply pushing us to an even higher level of greatness. The greater the challenge, the greater the champion... the 90s Knicks will forever be part of the epic legacy of the 90s Bulls
My favorite Jordan moment ever was at 3:40 in this video when Jordan basically said "No Freaking more" to Xavier McDaniel and the bully Knicks. The Bulls were in grave danger of losing that series through pure New York violence. Jordan stepped up like the leader he was. Those game-winning shots were nice, but THIS epitomized Jordan to me. He WOULD NOT lose.
Man, watching the highlights of this series, just reminded me of how tough the Knicks were back then..but, the Bulls had the heart of a champion and eye of the tiger. Playing the Pistons all those years, they were able to respond to the Knicks football like play...X getting in MJ's face?! Big mistake, you don't want to fire up the ultimate competitor anymore than he already was- ultimate assassin, that's why he is the GOAT 🙏👍
Did you complain when LeCon took his talents to Miami w/ Wade and Bosh? Or when he quit on them too and went to back to Cleveland where the league fixed it so they got three #1 overall picks in 4 years? I don't blame Durant one bit. Warriors will sweep LeCon next year. GUARANTEED, just so long as the gay league doesn't suspend people for nickel dime BS just cuz LeCon whines about it.
LeBron created a team to beat the Superteam that STARTED the trend:The Celtics. Kevin made it to the finals once and made it to the wcf twice, had the top team down 3-1, and blew a lead. and when he he joined them. that's not the same situation. im not a huge lebron fan but u just hating. KD is a sucka and ur stupid as shit if u think they gonna sweep. his legacy is done
I really hope that one day Chicago gets another player like Jordan (hell a team like any of the 90s bulls would be amazing). Nothing would make me happier then to see my home city winning championships again. It may not be today, tomorrow or even In a few years but hopefully one day we can regain out glory 😁
+Anthony Bono One of the main things I have learned about life is that no one can really predict the future 100% accurately. Anyone can say they can but who really knows wither its true or not. Anything can happen in a moment's notice and thats why they always say to expect the unexpected. Im sure one day, we will win another title .
the bulls are jinxed because of the Jordan curse..no playoffs for 8 years- then when they thought they were turning the corner they over spend on free agents only to get beaten by the pistons team in 2007..then they draft hometown hero d-rose who blows his knee out..they couldnt get past lebron james heat teams..d rose never regain his star status since the injury thiboduoe leave the bulls over management issues..you lose rose and noah the are cursed by Jordan
One hell of a 7 game series, no doubt. I could watch every game of this series just for the hell of it and probably feel the same anxiety I did watching it then. Totally invested.
In my opinion @ 2:15 is one of the greatest highlights in NBA history. I was never a fan of the Bulls or Jordan, but his intensity is amazing and to see it erupt like it did is always great to watch.
This is insane. If you would put any of the guys from these years into today's NBA, they would break the records of technical fouls. You could count at least 10 technicals that would be called today from this segment only.
Knicks losing Xavier McDaniels after that series cost the Knicks a title bc they than traded Marc Jackson for Doc Rivers and The Bum Charles Smith. X men owned Pippen
How did it cost the Knicks a title they made it to the finals in 1994 played an intense 7 game series against Houston. And McDaniel was great but he was towards the end of his career by this time, his prime was in Seattle in the late 80s.
Losing McDaniel did not cost the Knicks the title. The Knicks won their division in 93 and went to the Eastern Conference Finals (only to lose to Jordan's Bulls). In 94, the Knicks made it to the NBA Finals. They got better after giving up McDaniel. They just couldn't beat Jordan's Bulls, or the Rockets in 94... or the Pacers in 95...
@@coachcarter8238 You are correct. The Knicks had their chance. At the time, I actually thought that the 93 Knicks were going to beat the Bulls. That game 5 ECF when the Bulls rejected Smith at the rim like 3 times was one of my favorite basketball games of all time...Then in 94, the Bulls actually got screwed on that bogus foul call on Pippen. Then after they finally beat the Bulls (without Jordan) Starks goes 1 for 20 or whatever it was in Game 7 on the NBA Finals smh.....
I honestly believe had New York Knicks kept that 92 team and been patient I believe that would have beaten Houston Rockets in 1994 especially Xavier McDaniel who could have Patrick Ewing’s Pippen (the second scoring option) and Mark Jackson would have gave Houston Problems
So much passion in the games back then! And the contacts were brutal! You knew that if you would go in the paint, you would get punished! Now it's jersey touch and foul! I hope the game becomes more physical again!
