“We should have swept the Knicks” — GOAT TD

[HWoodNixon]

Really interesting article on the 1999 lockout season. Memorable quotes from Sean and Mario talking about series vs blazers and knicks. Worth a read!

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/2/19/18228706/lockout-1999-season-san-antonio-spurs-new-york-knicks

[Millennial_Messiah]

Those Knicks were the bottom of the garbage that was the immediate post-Jordan Leastern Conference playoff picture. They got luckyass against the Heat who were far and away the best team in the East and almost impossible to score against (think Zo, Tim Hardaway, prime Bruce Bowen etc) because it was best-of-5 back then and Allan Houston made an impossibly lucky shot.

Yes, we should have swept them, but any given day I guess? That's why the 7 game series is the only legit way to determine a winner in basketball.

[phxspurfan]

Those Knicks were the bottom of the garbage that was the immediate post-Jordan Leastern Conference playoff picture. They got luckyass against the Heat who were far and away the best team in the East and almost impossible to score against (think Zo, Tim Hardaway, prime Bruce Bowen etc) because it was best-of-5 back then and Allan Houston made an impossibly lucky shot.

Yes, we should have swept them, but any given day I guess? That's why the 7 game series is the only legit way to determine a winner in basketball.

For sure if it was the Heat the Spurs would have had a tough series. Zo would d-up Duncan or Robinson well, and Hardaway would have shit all over Avery Johnson. Duncan may have had to play even better and fully cement himself has the best bigman besides Shaq in the league all the way back in 99 if that happened, just to win his first ring.


playoffs are all about matchups.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1999.html

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/1999.html

Spurs would have played:

Robinson
Duncan
Elliott
Elie
Johnson

bench:
Steve Kerr
Jaren Jackson
Malik Rose


vs the Heat:

Mourning
PJ Brown
Jamal Mashburn
Dan Majerle
Tim Hardaway

bench:
Terry Porter
Clarence Weatherspoon
Terry Mills
Voshon Lenard


So the matchup advantages:

Mourning > Robinson (late career DRob vs. Prime Zo)
Duncan > PJ Brown (think of PJ Brown as the '90s Kurt Thomas)
Jamal Mashburn > Mario Elie (Mashburn was a good 3 at this point, Elie was clutch and hustled, but older)
Sean Elliott > Dan Majerle (late career Thunder Dan)
Tim Hardaway > Avery Johnson

Bench: push (Terry Porter/Voshon Lenard shooting ~= Jaren Jackson/Steve Kerr shooting, Weatherspoon ~= Malik Rose)

So the series would have likely come down to late defensive plays on the interior, rebounding (think Zo vs. Duncan) and home court advantage. Heat went 33-17 that year and Spurs went 37-13, so Spurs maybe in 7.

[Twisted_Dawg]

Jay Howard, who was our radio guy at the time, once said a ref called a foul on a Spur which allowed NY to win the game and extend the series. The problem is the foul was called on a Spur right in front of the radio table who was 10 feet away and never got close or touched the Knick. Howard said right then he knew there was something fushy about NBA officiating.

[GAustex]

Jay Howard, who was our radio guy at the time, once said a ref called a foul on a Spur which allowed NY to win the game and extend the series. The problem is the foul was called on a Spur right in front of the radio table who was 10 feet away and never got close or touched the Knick. Howard said right then he knew there was something fushy about NBA officiating.
Yep I remember thinking Knickref was out to throw that game. I have no doubt in my mind that the game NY won was tainted by Knickref...

[baseline bum]

Meh that Heat team wasn't shit. It's not like New York just got lucky in that series. The Knicks kicked the Heat's teeth in two games of that series. The Blazers were loaded with great frontcourt defensive talent too and they got the broom. Spurs in either four or five if they played that Miami team in the Finals.

[paperboy77]

Meh that Heat team wasn't shit. It's not like New York just got lucky in that series. The Knicks kicked the Heat's teeth in two games of that series. The Blazers were loaded with great frontcourt defensive talent too and they got the broom. Spurs in either four or five if they played that Miami team in the Finals.

Yup

[HWoodNixon]

No one was stopping SA that year.

[Kobe'sAchilles]

The heat were never making the finals anyways. They would've lost to Indiana in the ECF. That team was full of playoff chokers in Mourning and Hardaway. Spurs did and would've annihilated any team that year regardless

[r0drig0lac]

Meh that Heat team wasn't shit. It's not like New York just got lucky in that series. The Knicks kicked the Heat's teeth in two games of that series. The Blazers were loaded with great frontcourt defensive talent too and they got the broom. Spurs in either four or five if they played that Miami team in the Finals.
word

[tmtcsc]

For sure if it was the Heat the Spurs would have had a tough series.
So the series would have likely come down to late defensive plays on the interior, rebounding (think Zo vs. Duncan) and home court advantage. Heat went 33-17 that year and Spurs went 37-13, so Spurs maybe in 7.

https://media.giphy.com/media/GmXR8PZxJFbb2/giphy.gif

So you're saying the # 1 seeded Heat, who lost a 5 game series to the 8th seeded Knicks, would have given the Spurs a tough series? The Spurs, who finished the regular season 31-5 and had lost only 1 playoff game, sweeping Portland as well as the Shaq & Kobe led Lakers, would have had a difficult time coping with Alonzo Mourning and PJ Brown? I mean...did you bother re-reading what you typed? You can still go back and delete that non-sense and save face for future readers.

Sheesh man. 1998-1999 was the Spurs' year and NO TEAM was going to deny them. The twin towers of the Admiral & Duncan were as dominant a defensive duo as there ever has been in NBA playoff history. They absolutely choked teams to death. Alonzo Mourning would have been embarrassed & his career tainted by the amount of feces he would have been fed. He should thank the Basketball God's that he got beat in the first round.

[HWoodNixon]

https://media.giphy.com/media/GmXR8PZxJFbb2/giphy.gif

So you're saying the # 1 seeded Heat, who lost a 5 game series to the 8th seeded Knicks, would have given the Spurs a tough series? The Spurs, who finished the regular season 31-5 and had lost only 1 playoff game, sweeping Portland as well as the Shaq & Kobe led Lakers, would have had a difficult time coping with Alonzo Mourning and PJ Brown? I mean...did you bother re-reading what you typed? You can still go back and delete that non-sense and save face for future readers.

Sheesh man. 1998-1999 was the Spurs' year and NO TEAM was going to deny them. The twin towers of the Admiral & Duncan were as dominant a defensive duo as there ever has been in NBA playoff history. They absolutely choked teams to death. Alonzo Mourning would have been embarrassed & his career tainted by the amount of feces he would have been fed. He should thank the Basketball God's that he got beat in the first round.

sometimesni feel like the Spurs were solely responsible for destroying the Knicks organization. Don’t forget that Malik for Nazr trade.

[Keepin' it real]

Well, we SHOULD HAVE swept the Knicks that year. I still haven't forgiven Timmeh, Pop and the rest.

I know exactly how Costanza felt.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c9/af/10/c9af10dd2206d3e37d7ec9f25838bb90.jpg

[alamo50]

Really interesting article on the 1999 lockout season. Memorable quotes from Sean and Mario talking about series vs blazers and knicks. Worth a read!

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/2/19/18228706/lockout-1999-season-san-antonio-spurs-new-york-knicks

Thanks for posting!

[TDomination]

That playoff run was pure domination including a come from behind thriller that we will never forget (Memorial Day miracle of course)

No one was going to deny the spurs a ring that year. It was the beginning of an era

[Maddog]

Meh that Heat team wasn't shit. It's not like New York just got lucky in that series. The Knicks kicked the Heat's teeth in two games of that series. The Blazers were loaded with great frontcourt defensive talent too and they got the broom. Spurs in either four or five if they played that Miami team in the Finals.


No one was stopping SA that year.


The heat were never making the finals anyways. They would've lost to Indiana in the ECF. That team was full of playoff chokers in Mourning and Hardaway. Spurs did and would've annihilated any team that year regardless

The Heat started strong at 18-5, but counting the playoffs ended on a 17-15 run. Even if they had won the series- I'm not sure they make the Finals and even if so- not sure they would have done more than other teams against the Spurs.

The Spurs of course started 6-8 then finished 31-5. But even that underestimates how strong they finished. They went 12-1 to end the season ( 5 wins against Portland and Utah) then 15-2 playoffs. That's 27-3 over the last 30 games!

[BD24]

For sure if it was the Heat the Spurs would have had a tough series. Zo would d-up Duncan or Robinson well, and Hardaway would have shit all over Avery Johnson. Duncan may have had to play even better and fully cement himself has the best bigman besides Shaq in the league all the way back in 99 if that happened, just to win his first ring.


playoffs are all about matchups.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1999.html

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/1999.html

Spurs would have played:

Robinson
Duncan
Elliott
Elie
Johnson

bench:
Steve Kerr
Jaren Jackson
Malik Rose


vs the Heat:

Mourning
PJ Brown
Jamal Mashburn
Dan Majerle
Tim Hardaway

bench:
Terry Porter
Clarence Weatherspoon
Terry Mills
Voshon Lenard


So the matchup advantages:

Mourning > Robinson (late career DRob vs. Prime Zo)
Duncan > PJ Brown (think of PJ Brown as the '90s Kurt Thomas)
Jamal Mashburn > Mario Elie (Mashburn was a good 3 at this point, Elie was clutch and hustled, but older)
Sean Elliott > Dan Majerle (late career Thunder Dan)
Tim Hardaway > Avery Johnson

Bench: push (Terry Porter/Voshon Lenard shooting ~= Jaren Jackson/Steve Kerr shooting, Weatherspoon ~= Malik Rose)

So the series would have likely come down to late defensive plays on the interior, rebounding (think Zo vs. Duncan) and home court advantage. Heat went 33-17 that year and Spurs went 37-13, so Spurs maybe in 7.
I can’t agree with Zo over Robinson. Robinson was still a hell of a player at that point. We’re not talking 2003 tosb Robinson. Zo May have had a slight edge on defense, but Robinson was still the superior offensive player pretty easily imo. I think the edge goes to Drob in that matchup, maybe a wash. I can’t agree with Zo over him though tbh

[baseline bum]

I can’t agree with Zo over Robinson. Robinson was still a hell of a player at that point. We’re not talking 2003 tosb Robinson. Zo May have had a slight edge on defense, but Robinson was still the superior offensive player pretty easily imo. I think the edge goes to Drob in that matchup, maybe a wash. I can’t agree with Zo over him though tbh

Unbelievable that Mourning finished ahead of Duncan in the MVP voting that year.

[BD24]

Unbelievable that Mourning finished ahead of Duncan in the MVP voting that year.
I’m assuming that was because D rob had Duncan tbh

[baseline bum]

I’m assuming that was because D rob had Duncan tbh

It's because East Coast sportswriters and the MVP voting being mostly done by the last week of the season. So most MVP voters didn't see Duncan shit all over Karl Malone in fourth quarter of a nationally televised game that basically decided the division at the end of the season, nor see him beat Portland twice in the last week of the season.

[baseline bum]

Plus Malone and Mourning had been crowned early in the season. That also happened when Iverson won the 2001 MVP when it really should have gone to Shaq. But Iverson came on strong to start the season so there was so much MVP hype for Iverson even though the Lakers became unbeatable by the end of the season heading into the playoffs.

[slick'81]

Wonder if knicks give us a better series with ewing

[Arcadian]

Yeah, their best player Ewing was out.

[r0drig0lac]

Wonder if knicks give us a better series with ewing

no doubt

[Keepin' it real]

That playoff run was pure domination including a come from behind thriller that we will never forget (Memorial Day miracle of course)

No one was going to deny the spurs a ring that year. It was the beginning of an era

​*
https://media.giphy.com/media/2XskdWS4PLcXH9Bvn8Y/giphy.gif

[J_Paco]

​*
https://media.giphy.com/media/2XskdWS4PLcXH9Bvn8Y/giphy.gif


Yes, because the 2011-12 season is also given an (imaginary) asterisk by Phil......

And the Spurs played a shortened season while everyone else enjoy an 82 game grind. Oh, wait.....

[Chillen]

Spurs were lucky the Bulls decided to break it up. They would have cruised to the Finals with MJ/Pip/Kukoc in the weak East that season. Instead Pippen got shipped to Houston, Kukoc became the team leader and Jordan was out golfing.

I would have loved a Spurs/Bulls NBA Finals, it would have went to 6 or 7 games. I think Spurs had a great chance at handing MJ his first Finals loss. We will never know but no doubt Spurs would have been the toughest matchup for Chicago.

[phxspurfan]

Plus Malone and Mourning had been crowned early in the season. That also happened when Iverson won the 2001 MVP when it really should have gone to Shaq. But Iverson came on strong to start the season so there was so much MVP hype for Iverson even though the Lakers became unbeatable by the end of the season heading into the playoffs.

Iverson was the Sixers. Shaq had Kobe, among others in LA. Take Shaq away from LA and they still make the playoffs. Take Iverson off the 01 Sixers and thats a lottery team. Iverson was also scoring like no one in history besides MJ and Wilt

[phxspurfan]

Spurs were lucky the Bulls decided to break it up. They would have cruised to the Finals with MJ/Pip/Kukoc in the weak East that season. Instead Pippen got shipped to Houston, Kukoc became the team leader and Jordan was out golfing.

I would have loved a Spurs/Bulls NBA Finals, it would have went to 6 or 7 games. I think Spurs had a great chance at handing MJ his first Finals loss. We will never know but no doubt Spurs would have been the toughest matchup for Chicago.

MJ vs. Sean Elliott/Elie/Avery Johnson? That's like KD vs Mills and Forbes. Dude would have averaged 50

[phxspurfan]

Yep I remember thinking Knickref was out to throw that game. I have no doubt in my mind that the game NY won was tainted by Knickref...

Knick Bavetta

[Chillen]

MJ vs. Sean Elliott/Elie/Avery Johnson? That's like KD vs Mills and Forbes. Dude would have averaged 50

Yeah good point, but Bulls would have had no answer for Duncan/Robinson as Longley would have pulled his hair out guarding them. So you don't think the series could have went 6 or 7 and Spurs had a shot? Come to think of it you may be right Jordan/Pippen would have feasted on Elliot/Elle/Johnson. Maybe it could still have gone to 6 games but yeah Bulls probably would have beaten the Spurs.

So yes Spurs did get lucky the Bulls dynasty ended, I would take 1 loss to Knicks over having to get mauled by 2 Doberman's (Jordan/Pippen) in the Finals.

[Chillen]

double post.

[baseline bum]

Spurs were lucky the Bulls decided to break it up. They would have cruised to the Finals with MJ/Pip/Kukoc in the weak East that season. Instead Pippen got shipped to Houston, Kukoc became the team leader and Jordan was out golfing.

I would have loved a Spurs/Bulls NBA Finals, it would have went to 6 or 7 games. I think Spurs had a great chance at handing MJ his first Finals loss. We will never know but no doubt Spurs would have been the toughest matchup for Chicago.

Pippen wanted to get paid and that wasn't going to happen in Chicago with Jordan hypothetically taking most of the team's cap with a $35 million salary for 99 (no way he wouldn't have taken the max the 99 CBA would have allowed, which would have been 105% of his grandfathered $33 million from 97-98). Pippen was so ridiculously underpaid his entire time in Chicago so no way he was taking shorts again with Houston coming and offering $13 million a year. And Jordan wasn't taking a cent less than he could since he hated Krause and Reinsdorf. There was no way that team was ever staying together, even without the new CBA after the lockout.

[Chillen]

Pippen wanted to get paid and that wasn't going to happen in Chicago with Jordan hypothetically taking most of the team's cap with a $35 million salary for 99 (no way he wouldn't have taken the max the 99 CBA would have allowed, which would have been 105% of his grandfathered $33 million from 97-98). Pippen was so ridiculously underpaid his entire time in Chicago so no way he was taking shorts again with Houston coming and offering $13 million a year. And Jordan wasn't taking a cent less than he could since he hated Krause and Reinsdorf. There was no way that team was ever staying together, even without the new CBA after the lockout.

It's to bad Pippen wasted a year of his prime with a washed up Hakeem and Barkley after they broke the Bulls up.

[baseline bum]

Yeah good point, but Bulls would have had no answer for Duncan/Robinson as Longley would have pulled his hair out guarding them. So you don't think the series could have went 6 or 7 and Spurs had a shot? Come to think of it you may be right Jordan/Pippen would have feasted on Elliot/Elle/Johnson. Maybe it could still have gone to 6 games but yeah Bulls probably would have beaten the Spurs.

So yes Spurs did get lucky the Bulls dynasty ended, I would take 1 loss to Knicks over having to get mauled by 2 Doberman's (Jordan/Pippen) in the Finals.

Rodman was washed up by then (see his stints in LA and Dallas) and Pippen never seemed to be the same player after all his injuries in 97-98. The 96-97 Bulls would have taken down that Spurs team no problem but they were running on fumes in 97-98. If Karl Malone doesn't choke that ball away on the block at the end of Game 6 that Jazz team most likely rings with either no Pippen or 35% Pippen for Game 7. Plus they needed a lot of help from the refs with that clearly in time Howard Eisley three being waved off as well as Ron Harper's buzzer beater counting. The Bulls escaped with that title on Jordan's shoulders but that's asking a lot for him to do it again and against a much better team while likely losing a lot of his supporting cast to free agency, even assuming they did find some way to get Pippen back.

[cd98]

Yeah, their best player Ewing was out.

Naw, Ewing sucked by then. He was old and no good. He was older than David, I believe. Camby was much better.

[baseline bum]

It's to bad Pippen wasted a year of his prime with a washed up Hakeem and Barkley after they broke the Bulls up.

That team was really hard to watch. Just seeing everyone stand at the three point line with Barkley and Olajuwon taking turns milking the clock and then throwing it out to Pippen, Cuttino Mobley, or Micheal Dickerson for a desperation three to beat the shot clock every possession was painful. That was the ugliest basketball I had seen outside of Fratello's Cavs teams.

[baseline bum]

Iverson was the Sixers. Shaq had Kobe, among others in LA. Take Shaq away from LA and they still make the playoffs. Take Iverson off the 01 Sixers and thats a lottery team. Iverson was also scoring like no one in history besides MJ and Wilt

I hate seeing storyline determine awards. Shaq was a far superior player that season and Iverson was racking up wins against the worst conference the league has ever seen, but he was little and people rooted for him. If you want to see a real MVP carrying a crap cast look at LeBron dragging that garbage 09 Cavs team to 66 wins in a conference with strong Celtics and Magic teams.

[spurraider21]

I hate seeing storyline determine awards. Shaq was a far superior player that season and Iverson was racking up wins against the worst conference the league has ever seen, but he was little and people rooted for him. If you want to see a real MVP carrying a crap cast look at LeBron dragging that garbage 09 Cavs team to 66 wins in a conference with strong Celtics and Magic teams.
crofl supporting cast of Mo Williams, Ilgauskas, and delonte west

crofl wally sczcerbiak getting 20 mpg on that squad

[baseline bum]

crofl supporting cast of Mo Williams, Ilgauskas, and delonte west

crofl wally sczcerbiak getting 20 mpg on that squad

LOL back when Kobestans used to cite guys like Mo Williams and Anthony Parker as proof LeBron's supporting casts weren't crap.

[spurraider21]

LOL back when Kobestans used to cite guys like Mo Williams and Anthony Parker as proof LeBron's supporting casts weren't crap.
yeah, even during the pre-pau years, at least the lakers had odom as an automatic 15-10-5 guy. that was better than any teammate lebron ever had pre-heatles

[Arcadian]

Naw, Ewing sucked by then. He was old and no good. He was older than David, I believe. Camby was much better.

He was still good for 17 points, 10 boards, and 2.5 blocks per game...not bad at all.