#8 1996-97 NEW YORK KNICKS
June 1996: the New York Knicks watch their arch-nemesis Mike Jordan and the Bulls drink champagne as they celebrated a 4th title on Father's Day. Suddenly a franchise (who's soul was taken and left on Houston's arena in game 7of the finals just two years before) in despair felt some sense of hope of life and resurrection.
If this team, a team they just beat in the playoffs two years before (sans a baseball playing MJ) can rise from the ashes, why couldn't they? One big omission for the Knick's scenario is that their Phoenix didn't wear a red 23 jersey. But they were able to rejuvenate their city and fanbase with moves, in retrospect, that parallel and pre-quel the free-agent fever of 2010.
Playing the parts of "big name players" acquired were a young sharp-shooting Allan Houston from Detroit, 'flavor of the week' (and of later 2-piece Kobe combo infamy) pg Chris Childs, and everyone's favorite 'Grand-ma-maw' Larry Johnson. They complemented a veteran yet still in their prime combo of Pat Ewing and Charles Oakley. Veterans Buck Williams and John Starks came off the bench to provide toughness and leadership while Charlie Ward and John Wallace sparked them with youth. The rejuvenated Knicks coasted through the season and finished #3 in the East with a 57-25 record behind the Miami Heat (61-21) and the 72-10 Bulls.
Fast forward to the 97 playoffs and the pseudo-prelude to the "puppets" matchup of the Bulls and Knicks seemed all but inevitable. It was just a matter of time. The Bulls took care of business and were awaiting the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Because of their matchups, intense rivalry and history, it appeared as if the only team who could beat that '96 Bulls team were the Knicks.
New York was all but there to make that happen, commanding a 3 games to 1 lead to their new up and coming rival, the Miami Heat (Tim Hardaway was All NBA 1st team, Alonzo had a big first year in Miami). Then Chinua Achebe and Black Thought came to Game 5, and things fell apart for the Knicks. I'll let Wiki-pedia finish that story:
The Heat won Game 5 although the game was remembered for P.J. Brown fighting with Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward.[1] The Knicks players came off the bench and earned an automatic suspension. The Heat stayed on the bench and would gain an advantage for the rest of the series. The Heat would eliminate the undermanned Knicks in 7 games and one of the most heated rivalries in the NBA would be born.[1] Despite qualifying for the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat would be vanquished by the eventual world champion Chicago Bulls in 5 games
HONORABLE MENTION: 1993-94 KNICKS
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