|
Top Twelve Knicks Moments of the 70's
For the decade that began with the Knicks winning their first NBA World Championship we couldn't just put together a Top Ten list of great Knicks moments, so we made it an even dozen. How many of these great moments do you remember?
1) CHAMPS! MAY 8, 1970: Following the dramatic last-minute entrance of Willis Reed, the Knicks win their first NBA Championship with a 113-99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Seven of the NBA Finals at the Garden. . .Walt Frazier turns in a virtuoso performance (36 pts, 19 ast), while Dave DeBusschere adds 18 points and 17 rebounds. . .Reed is named series MVP.
2) CHAMPS AGAIN! MAY 10, 1973: The Knicks claim their second NBA title, defeating the Lakers in Game Five of the NBA Finals, 102-93 at the Forum. . .Earl Monroe’s 23 points help blunt a late Lakers charge, while series MVP Willis Reed hauls in 12 rebounds.
3) THE GREATEST COMEBACK NOVEMBER 18, 1972: Trailing Milwaukee 86-68 late in the fourth quarter, the Knicks run off 19 straight points in the game’s final 5:11 to defeat the Bucks, 87-86 at MSG, in perhaps the most famous regular season game in club history. . .Bucks have one final shot to win, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s hook shot falls short at the buzzer.
4) FOR THE CAP’N MAY 4, 1970: On the day of the infamous Kent State Shootings, the Knicks rally without their captain for a 107-100 victory over the Lakers in Game Five of the NBA Finals at the Garden. . .Knicks come back from as many as 16 points down after Willis Reed is forced out of the game in the first half with a deep thigh bruise.
5) THE EASTER CLASSIC APRIL 22, 1973: In a truly unforgettable game, the Knicks outlast the Boston Celtics, 117-110 in double overtime in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals, taking a 3-1 lead in a series they’ll eventually win in seven games. . .Knicks rally to win after trailing by 17 points late in the third quarter. . .Frazier pours in 37 points. . .In late war of attrition, major Knicks heroes are subs Phil Jackson and John Gianelli, who fouls out League MVP Dave Cowens in the second OT.
6) LUKE AND THE PEARL In a pair of stunning trades, the Knicks acquire two future Hall of Famers during a six-month span in 1971, picking up Jerry Lucas from San Francisco on May 7, 1971 and Earl Monroe from Baltimore on Nov 10, 1971. . .Both Lucas and Monroe would be instrumental in the 1973 title run, and both will eventually be named among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.
7) THE FORGOTTEN CHAMPIONS With Willis Reed sidelined by injury for all but 11 games, the Knicks rally their shorthanded forces to win the Eastern Conference Championship. . .Frazier (career-high 23.2 ppg), Lucas (16.7 ppg, 13.1 rpg) and DeBusschere (15.4 rpg, 11.3 rpg) are among the heroes as the Knicks, winners of only 48 games during the regular season, come within three wins of an NBA title. . .With both Frazier and DeBusschere nursing injuries, Knicks are defeated by the Lakers in five games in the NBA Finals. . .
8) DOO FOR TWO! DEC 9, 1976: Bob McAdoo, a future Hall of Famer and one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, is acquired from the Buffalo Braves. . .McAdoo will go on to become a two-time All-Star as a Knick and average 26.7 ppg – the highest career scoring average in franchise history.
9) CLYDE’S RETURN OCT 25, 1977: Less than three weeks after being stunningly dealt to Cleveland, seven-time All-Star Walt Frazier returns to a deafening Garden ovation, and helps lead the Cavs to a 117-112 overtime win over the Knicks.
10) NO. 19 TO THE RAFTERS OCT 21, 1976: Fittingly, two-time NBA Finals MVP Willis Reed becomes the first Knick ever to have his uniform number retired, as no. 19 is hoisted to the Garden rafters.
11) RED RETIRES (THE FIRST TIME) MARCH 9, 1977: Hall of Fame coach Red Holzman announces his retirement, effective at the end of the season. . .Red would be succeeded by Willis Reed, but would return as coach on November 10, 1978.
12) SWEET AS SUGAR JUNE 9, 1978: With the fourth overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Knicks select the electrifying Micheal Ray Richardson out of Montana. . .Sugar would go on to become a three-time All-Star as a Knick, and register a franchise record and League-leading 265 steals in 1979-80.
Copyright 2002 NBA Media Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. By accessing any information beyond this page, you agree to abide by the NBA.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Employment opportunities
|
