“I don’t see anybody in the East or the West who I fear. I just think we have to come out and play our game.”PATRICK EWING
Yes, this is basketball’s version of World War III, but there have been significant Knick changes since last year’s playoff victory over the Heat.
These are not the same old Knicks. They are more aerodynamic with the addition of Latrell Sprewell and Marcus Camby. And don’t forget, last year in Round 2 of this three-round bout, the Knicks had no Patrick Ewing, who was out with a wrecked wrist.
When the Knicks take on the Heat tomorrow in Miami in Game One, they will have a different look, but the same bravado. Though Ewing has been saddled with an aching Achilles the last 10 weeks, his spirit remains strong. He also says his foot is feeling much better. There’s no doubt that this time around he expects to play a major role in beating the Heat.
Just listen to his comment yesterday after the Knicks went through a light workout. “I don’t see anybody in the East or the West who I fear,” Ewing said as he stood in the doorway of the gym at Purchase College. “I just think we have to come out and play our game.”
What exactly is the Knick game, however, is not clearly defined and that is why this series is so unpredictable. The only thing for certain is that at some point in the series the two teams will square off, but what overall approach will the Knicks have and will Jeff Van Gundy, who has been reluctant all year to mix in his new pieces, push the right buttons this time around?
Camby is hoping to get his shot in the playoffs after having back-to-back solid games against the Heat.
“What happened in the beginning of the year is in the past right now,” Camby said of the time Van Gundy did not deem him worthy enough to play against the Heat. “It’s a new season.”
And a new-look Knicks. “Guys like Latrell and Marcus, they give us energy,” old sage Herb Williams said.
“We give them that energy push,” Camby explained. “We’re dunking, we’re high-flying, that’s definitely something the Knicks lacked in the past. Now we’ve just made the game more exciting … When Spree is hot and he has it going, that’s when we seem to take off. I think other teams are used to us pounding it out, giving it to Pat and backing in, stationary shots, but now we’re getting into transition more, fastbreak, behind-the-back passes, something that’s real different here …
“Opponents are used to seeing Oak and other guys that they were used to seeing. Now they’re seeing a more youthful team playing with more energy, playing with a lot of emotion out there.”
The playoffs are always a halfcourt war, however, so it will be a challenge for Camby, Sprewell & Co. to continue to run. The two were instrumental in the Knicks’ back-from-the-dead 82-80 win over the Heat two Sundays ago, when the Knicks trailed by 20 by the time Sprewell got on the floor in the second half.
Van Gundy called the four regular-season games between the Heat and Knicks “four love-ins” compared to what the playoffs will be like. He said that Sprewell’s minutes will increase a bit against the Heat but that some inside player will lose some time.
For Camby, this is his first playoff action. Sprewell and starting power forward Kurt Thomas have each played and lost only three playoff games in their careers. It will be fascinating to see how all these new Knicks respond to a battle that features warhorses like Larry Johnson, Tim Hardaway, Ewing and the Heat’s MVP candidate Alonzo Mourning. Sprewell can’t wait.
“I’m excited, I’m looking forward to getting the first playoff win under my belt,” Sprewell said. “From what I’ve seen, I knew these playoff games have always been intense, physical, a battle throughout.”
What will keep this series from going over the edge?
“We can’t worry about that,” said the reluctant Sixth Man. “We’re going to go out there and play Knick basketball and be physical and I’m sure they are going to be the same way. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Sprewell can be a terror on the court and seems to have joined right into the fun of a Knick-Heat battle.
“I’m never going to let anybody walk over me or anyone else on the team,” he said. “I’m not anticipating anything’s like that. My focus is to go out execute, defend well. We want to give hard fouls, but we’re not trying to hurt anyone, just play good basketball.”
Both Camby and Sprewell are well aware that Ewing is key to their success.
“We’re just a different team,” Sprewell said. “But we definitely need Patrick. We need him to play well. We need everybody to do their part from top to bottom. It’s going to take a team effort. Hopefully, everyone will be there for us.”
In this battle, every soldier is needed. Watching last season’s games, Sprewell said, “I know it was pretty obvious that the teams didn’t like each other. It’s a heated, intense rivalry. That’s what makes this game so much fun. I don’t have any animosity toward the Heat, but I want to win just as bad as anyone else on this team. It’s all about getting the ‘W.'”
Never more so than in this playoff war.