Around this time of year, Hardwood Paroxysm usually does a theme week. This year, as the pool of players who began their careers in the 1990s dwindles, we thought it would be fun to celebrate the entire decade. In typical HP fashion, we will be covering ten years of basketball like a cat chasing a laser pointer. There is nothing comprehensive about our plans, around the HP Network we’re simply digging into the players, teams, and stories from that decade which interest us most. Welcome to #90sWeek.
For 90s week we decided to bring back our old Throwback Thursday live blog idea from this past summer for a few iconic 90s games. The first is from 1999 and is the last great moment in the 1990s Heat/Knicks rivalry. This trip through the game comes from Wes, Donnie and Matt. Feel free to watch the game yourself and leave some thoughts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I749PGQlwa4
Pregame:
@Matt_Cianfrone: Kurt Thomas is staring into my soul in his starting lineup picture and it scares me.
@DonnieBuckets: Before tip, JVG already called embattled. They’re referring to his job status, but it’s a solid descriptor of him all the time.
@Matt_Cianfrone: I forgot that best of five was a thing at some point.
@DonnieBuckets: Bill Walton’s doing this game! Excitement up about 65%
1st quarter:
@wcgoldberg: Jeff Van Gundy apparently told his team “kick their butts” before the game. What a pep talk, Jeff!
@DonnieBuckets: Well, this Ewing-Mourning duel didn’t take long to get going.
@wcgoldberg: First two scores are by Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing… you would have been lucky to get even odds on that.
@DonnieBuckets: Kurt Thomas was crazy eyes before Bobby Portis was in diapers!
@Matt_Cianfrone: Bill Walton hates boring double teams. I love Bill Walton.
@wcgoldberg: TIM HARDAWAY IS ALIVE!
@Matt_Cianfrone: I’m all for rule changes that eliminated plays like Kurt Thomas post-ups.
@Matt_Cianfrone: Back-to-back airballs for the Knicks. Not great in an elimination game.
@DonnieBuckets: Bill Walton’s talking about psychology. Hopefully, this continues.
@Matt_Cianfrone: That crossover from Allan Houston was mean. Got Thunder Dan falling over.
@wcgoldberg: Latrell Sprewell checking in and I just threw up in my mouth
@DonnieBuckets: Oh, right. Allan Houston was awesome.
@DonnieBuckets: I’m convinced Zo could get 8 and 6 in 15 minutes a game today.
@wcgoldberg: Heat up 18-8 and Alonzo Mourning isn’t even trying yet.
@Matt_Cianfrone: The Knicks should have played this lineup that got out in transition more. It was fun.
@wcgoldberg: Okay okay Knicks with a 9-0 run. We knew they would go on a run but it’s time to end it, Heat.
@DonnieBuckets: Latrell Sprewell’s a “freelance player.” J.R. Smith cosigns this designation.
@wcgoldberg: [Sprewell scores in transition]
Okay. NOW it’s time to end it.
@wcgoldberg: PORT3R
@DonnieBuckets: Bill Walton, telling the best on-air stories this side of Vin Scully.
@wcgoldberg: Tie game 21-21. Someone get me a drink. Neat.
@wcgoldberg: Oh thank God for Tim Hardaway
2nd Quarter:
@Matt_Cianfrone: These are some of the most loaded in game questions I have ever heard.
@DonnieBuckets: LMAO AT TALKING ABOUT PHIL FOR GM! Just 15 years early
@DonnieBuckets: It’s amazing Jim Gray gets away with these direct questions in game. It’d never happen today.
@wcgoldberg: Hardaway’s shot is so smooth. I bet it’s genetic. I hope his kid one day plays for the Heat. Well, anyone but the Knicks.
@DonnieBuckets: Walton says “Never lob a player whose playing with severe Achilles tendinitis,” He really needs to stop using cliches.
@wcgoldberg: Weatherspoon has no chance against Marcus Camby. Why would he try to post him up?
@wcgoldberg: I don’t know what’s more of a phenomena, the Heat being in this game or Furbie.
@Matt_Cianfrone: Not going to lie, I forgot how good Alonzo Mourning was.
@Matt_Cianfrone: The offense for the Heat in the second quarter has not been ideal.
@Matt_Cianfrone: “Miami’s defense is stuck in the mud”. We found the original Grizzlies!
@wcgoldberg: P.J. Brown has been sensational. 4-of-5 shooting and smooth from mid-range.
@Matt_Cianfrone: TIM BUG! That was a tough shot.
@wcgoldberg: THE HARD WAY FOR HARDAWAY AT THE BUZZER HEAT UP 41-37 AT HT.
3rd Quarter:
@DonnieBuckets: It’s amazing how much Ewing is laboring. How he played 3 more years is beyond me.
@wcgoldberg: The broadcast crew keeps talking about how bad Jamal Mashburn has been… but he has 11 points. Take that, Bill Walton!
@Matt_Cianfrone: Good to see Monster Mash get hot for a bit after he got killed all game long.
@wcgoldberg: Walton, just keep talking about how bad the Heat are. That way they all start playing well.
@Matt_Cianfrone: Zo’s double jump ability is insane. Kurt Thomas had no idea he was coming.
@wcgoldberg: Alonzo Mourning should be dominating right now. Ewing can’t walk. Larry Johnson can’t guard him. GIVE HIM THE BALL!
@Matt_Cianfrone: It is really a shame how bad Ewing’s late career injury luck was.
@DonnieBuckets: It’s funny to me that Latrell Sprewell has the same open court dribble as Lance Stephenson
@wcgoldberg: Okay, I take it back, Larry Johnson can guard Zo. But that’s about it. He can’t score!
@Matt_Cianfrone: “It is not how many shots you make it is how many you take.” Love you Bill Walton.
@DonnieBuckets: These Heat possessions are horrendous
@Matt_Cianfrone: Some poor Knick got killed on a screen at mid-court to end the quarter. RIP.
@wcgoldberg: Since Ewing went to the bench, the Knicks are on an 11-4 run. #EwingTheory
4th Quarter:
@Matt_Cianfrone: THUNDER DAN FROM DOWNTOWN!
@DonnieBuckets: DAN BRINGS THUNDER!
@wcgoldberg: MAJERLE FROM 25 FEET
@wcgoldberg: VOSHON! HEAT 69, KNICKS 62
@DonnieBuckets: That dude holding the sign cheering on the Heat had a Pacers shirt on. That was odd.
@wcgoldberg: Heat picking a bad time to get cold.
@DonnieBuckets: What a gutty effort by Ewing. But he shouldn’t waste energy on fist pumps.
@DonnieBuckets: Mourning blocked that with his armpit
@Matt_Cianfrone This isn’t exactly the cleanest basketball right now.
@DonnieBuckets: CHILDS PLAY
@wcgoldberg: Miami is up 73-72. Please please please just let Zo finish this thing.
@Matt_Cianfrone: What a tough finish from LJ.
@wcgoldberg: Ugh, Larry Johnson scores. Come on, Zo!
@DonnieBuckets: LJ got his powers back just in time.
@wcgoldberg: MOURNING VS EWING AND MOURNING GETS THE HOOK TO GO IN!
@DonnieBuckets: YOUNG THIBS! He must love this game
@wcgoldberg: Knicks miss! Heat up by one!
@wcgoldberg: I have a bad feeling about this.
@wcgoldberg: Ewing misses the shot! Good D by Zo! Heat ball! 75-74! So close!
@Matt_Cianfrone: I know Pat Ewing was great but repeatedly isoing an injured Ewing on Zo seems not ideal.
@wcgoldberg: Terry Porter fouled! Just hit these free throws!
@wcgoldberg: That’s one!
@wcgoldberg: That’s two!
@wcgoldberg: Terry Porter clutch! Heat up by 3!
@wcgoldberg: Crap. Bad foul, Zo. Ewing at the line…makes both
@wcgoldberg: Okay, just need one sc–HARDAWAY NO!!!!!
@DonnieBuckets: TIM HARDAWAY YOU HAD ONE JOB.
@wcgoldberg: Okay, defense. Lock up, here. We got this. Still up one.
@Matt_Cianfrone: Not an ideal last possession for the Knicks. Luckily it going out of bounds gives them another shot.
@wcgoldberg: Ball deflected off Miami. Just defend these last seconds. Nothing weird. Nothing weird.
@DonnieBuckets: HOUSTON WE HAVE LIFT OFF
@Matt_Cianfrone: ALLAN HOUSTON! That shot was insane. Poor Heat who defended really well until the step through.
@wcgoldberg: ALLAN HOUSTON?!?!! HAS HE PLAYED IN THIS GAME AT ALL?!?!?!? NOOOOOOOO.
@wcgoldberg: Still time for one shot. Work your magic, Riles.
Cianfrone: That Porter shot looked like it had a chance.
@DonnieBuckets: What a storybook year for the Knicks…until the Spurs decided to start their “Crush everyone’s dreams” tour
@DonnieBuckets: I just looked up the scores of the Finals games. Only one time did a team reach 90 in the Finals…yeesh. No wonder people used to think the Spurs were boring.
@Matt_Cianfrone: Poor Zo…
@wcgoldberg: Ugh. I want to die. I’m going to go listen to Rob Thomas…
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