Countdown To The 2018 NBA Finals - No. 4: 1994 New York Knicks vs Houston Rockets
As of May 22, 2018 – the start of this countdown – we’re officially 10 days away from the NBA Finals. So with that in mind I started thinking about the best Finals since I really remember started watching the games. I was born in 1987, which basically goes in line of remembering Jordan’s first trip to Finals in 1991. So we’ll use that as our starting point. What were the 10 best NBA Finals since 1991. Each day we’ll reveal one as we countdown to No. 1 on the start of the NBA Finals.
No. 10 – 2008
No. 9 – 2004
No. 8 – 2005
No. 7 – 2011
No. 6 – 2010
No. 5 – 1993
No. 4 – 1994 NBA Finals – Houston Rockets 4, New York Knicks 3
MVP: Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets)
Notable players: Hakeem Olajuwon, Robert Horry, Vernon Maxwell, Sam Cassell, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason
Head coaches: Rudy Tomjanovich (Houston Rockets), Pat Riley (New York Knicks)
Best game: Game 6 (Rockets won 86-84)
Biggest moment: If we’re being honest, it has to be the OJ moment, right? That’s what everyone sort of talks about first when you talk about this series. During Game 5, the telecast notoriously went to a split screen in order to show the OJ Bronco Chase. If we’re talking about on the court, the answer has to be Hakeem’s block in game 6. Trailing by just two, the Knicks had the ball and were able to get it to John Starks. Coming off a screen, Starks had a decently open look but Hakeem was able to switch the screen and get enough of a block to leave the shot short. I’m sorry Clem, this hurts me too.
Background: The Knicks were finally able to get past the Bulls in the first year without Jordan due to a retirement (wink, wink). The Knicks, led by Patrick Ewing, were the No. 2 seed in the East and got the Finals by playing two seven game series – against the Bulls in the semifinals and Pacers in the conference finals. The Rockets were the No. 2 seed out West and had a bit easier of a time to get to the NBA Finals. Houston played a seven game series in the semifinals, but other than that they played just 2 more games than they needed to. This series was pretty much labeled as Hakeem vs Ewing. The two bigs were arguably the two best bigs in the NBA and the individual matchup was something that everyone looked at in terms of who would have the advantage.
Historical standpoint: This was the first NBA Finals win for the Houston Rockets in their franchise history. It also was the first of a back to back NBA Finals win, anchored by Hakeem. The Rockets would go on to trade for Clyde Drexler, reuniting him with Hakeem during the 1995 season. For the Knicks, it was much different. Expected to get back to the Finals in 1995, the Knicks lost to Reggie Miller in seven games causing me to cry. I hate Reggie Miller. Pat Riley would leave for Miami, causing me to cry again, because I also hated the Heat. But, that’s enough about me. John Starks going 2-for-18 in Game 7 is one that’s always talked about as the worst individual NBA Finals game and the Knicks have never gotten back to the Finals. Alright, I need to go drink.
Video highlights from the series:
