The Hated Rivalry: Why the 90s Pacers Became Rivals with the Knicks
The New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers were more than just teams vying for the top spot in the NBA. They were fierce rivals, their interactions on the court as intense as the tension between the fans in the stands. This article delves into why the 90s Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks became one of the most heated rivalries in NBA history.
The Seeds of a Rivalry
The rivalry between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers was a product of several factors. Perhaps the most noticeable was the great players found on both teams. Reggie Miller and Patrick Ewing were two of the brightest stars of their era, each known for his devastating shot and his trash talking abilities. The Indiana Pacers were also bolstered by the presence of Larry Bird, who took on a management role, amplifying the already charged atmosphere.
A Spark from Spike Lee
Adding fuel to the fire was the involvement of Spike Lee, a die-hard Knicks fan who wasn't afraid to confront Reggie Miller. Spike Lee's confrontations with Miller happened whenever he got the chance, fueling the already intense rivalry on and off the court. These spur-of-the-moment interactions added a new level of edge to the rivalry, making it one of the most memorable in NBA history.
The Tension on the Court
The 90s were an era of intense competition, and the Knicks and Pacers were no exception. They faced off against each other in several well-known contests, many of which ended in heated physical altercations. The Knicks had players who excelled at trash talking, particularly Patrick Ewing, who used his large frame and vocal presence to rile up the opposing team. The Pacers, on the other hand, relied on the fiery personalities of players like Miller and Danny McKee, who were renowned for their "nastiness" and "edge."
The most memorable of these altercations took place in the 1994 playoffs, where the Pacers faced off against the Knicks in a series filled with physical confrontations and intense competition. Ewing's clashes with The Big O (Patrick Ewing vs. Austin) and the series' overall contentious nature made it one of the most hotly contested playoff matches in NBA history.
Background of the Teams
Before 1993, the Pacers had never even made it to the conference finals. The Knicks, on the other hand, were in the middle of their last championship run in 1973. Both teams were desperate to take advantage of the void left by Michael Jordan's retirement and win their first-ever NBA title. These pressures added another layer of intensity to their rivalry, often resulting in heated exchanges and physical altercations on the court.
The Impact of the Rivalry
The rivalry between the Knicks and Pacers not only impacted the players and coaches involved but also the fans. Breathing heavy and charged with a mix of excitement and tension, the defining rivalry of the 90s left a lasting impact on both teams and the entire NBA. The physical and on-court interactions between Miller and Ewing are still fondly remembered by fans and sports historians alike.
While the rivalry is a distant memory now, its legacy lives on. The impact of this rivalry on the teams' fanbases and their overall performance during that era can still be felt. The intensity and passion displayed in their games serve as a reminder of the fierce competition that once defined the NBA.