WATCHING HIM PLAY AS A KID... WE CALLED HIM THE SEVEN FOOT WONDER.... AMAZING TALENT... NEVER BACKED DOWN.. AND NOT ONLY HAD GOOD GAMES AGAINST THE SCRUBS BUT HELD HIS OWN AMONG THE GREAT ONES...
Patrick Ewing was a meance in the post. He had excellent footwork, and a nice hook shot in the paint. He was surrounded everytime he got the ball but he was still able to get his shot off over defenders with his long arms. He dribbled across the top of the free throw line and unleash his drop step into Parrish's chest to get his shot off to draw fouls. He was fundamental, but dominant. Ewing was a grunt in the trench!
People forget but there was a period where Ewing was undisputedly the best center in the NBA. Late 80's, early 90's. Admittedly, Hakeem took over by mid 90's, but honestly I think Ewing's knees were really starting to bother him by then. Look how quick he is in this game. How high he jumps. He was still great in the mid to late 90's but not quite the same physically.
Ewing was at his peak right here. Still only 27 years old and as you said his knees were still good here. This is when the Knicks should have surrounded him with more talent...not in the late 90s when he was already past his prime.
Hakeem had more years than Ewing as an all-time great, but I've revisited some of their matchups in 1994 and 1995 (regular season and playoffs), and it's hardly the case that "The Dream" was always dominant. Ewing often matched Hakeem's efforts and even outplayed him on the rare occasion. In any case, their matchups since college were the stuff of legend! I can't believe the NBA will ever be that good again (the 1980s and '90s were the peak, IMO).
J78618 Imo, the end was in 1988, when the Pistons took the Eastern conference torch from them. They made it to the finals 4 consecutive years before, their group of Parish, Mchale, Bird, Ainge, and D.Johnson was no more.
I actually felt the Celtics remained contenders all the way until 1992. I think the Celtics just caught a bad matchup with the Knicks in the first round. If this series had gone seven games who knows who would’ve won. The Celtics lost in six games to the Pistons in 1991, and that series was a lot closer than it seemed. Then in 1992 the Celtics pushed a really good Cavaliers team to seven games.
Ewing what a monster of a performance on the road. Final nail in the coffin of those great Celtics teams, dominated in the post. So athletic here, shame he's knees were causing him massive problems by the time the Knicks were true contenders. Patrick Ewing a warrior.
I remembered watching this game. When I saw that three pointer launched by Ewing go in as he was fading out of bounds, I knew the Knicks would officially break the 26 game losing streak against the Celtics. This is the Patrick Ewing I wish a lot of fans remembered.
This is probably my favorite version of Ewing. He played with a lot of energy on both sides of the floor and was quicker and more athletic. My memory of him was the 90's version. He was still playing at a high level and scoring a lot of point, but he wasn't as athletic and his knees made him less mobile. This athletic, energetic version of him was fun to watch.
Celtics also set the record for most points in a playoff game in Game 2.....ran the score up on them big....I wouldn't be surprised if the Celtics outscored the Knicks in this series and still lost
This was the only time the Celtics ever lost in the first round while Bird was playing. They lost in '89 but he missed that season injured. Even their '91 and '92 teams when Bird was a broken down old warhorse advanced past the first round.
Mo' Cheeks helping Patrick do his thing. All those great early 80s teams had broken down by this time. The stubborn Lakers and Celtics had to be dragged down like this.
This hurt after setting the then record in game 2. Can't really use the old busted up Celtics factor as an excuse. They would go 26-5 out of the gate next season but still they were heading into the sunset. Also Dennis Johnson's final game. RIP.
Celtics fans, who see things only through Green Irish colored glasses, will claim that Larry Bird is the true GOAT. I don't buy that and never will. I'm not saying he wasn't a great player. Just not the GOAT.
