Image via Complex Original
These days the word "rivalry" gets thrown around way too often. Just because two teams had a couple exciting games against each other doesn't make it worthy of such a title. Has your so-called rivalry included the type of brawls where even the coaches get involved? Has it had a coach jump ship from one team to the hated nemesis? We can go on and on, but there aren't many true rivalries quite like what the Miami Heat and New York Knicks have had brewing for over a decade now.
With the two teams meeting in the playoffs for the first time since 2000, it's time to take a look at the history of their long-standing feud. From Allan Houston's teardrop that sent the No. 1 seeded Heat packing in the 1999 NBA Playoffs to the infamous Jeff Van Gundy incident, here is The History of the Knicks vs. Heat Rivalry.
Follow @Complex_Sports
Pat Riley Leaves the Knicks For the Heat
Date: 6/15/1995
Even though Pat Riley never brought one of his five total NBA championships to New York, he was still a beloved figure in the Big Apple. But in 1995, Riley became public enemy No. 1 when the coach decided to leave the Knicks to join the Heat. The worst part about the whole ordeal is that Riley told the Knickerbockers front office via fax. Homie definitely lost some cool points for that move.
Pat Riley Returns to MSG
Date: 12/19/1995
After leaving the Knicks high and dry, Pat Riley returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time, and received the treatment worthy of a person who flat-out disrespected a franchise via fax. Boos, curses, and everything you can think of rained down on Riley and like the cool dude he's been throughout his coaching career, Pat took it all in stride and even invited the crowd to bring it. Well, the Knicks won 89-70. Be careful what you wish for, fam.
A Little Controversy...
Date: 4/12/1997
No rivalry is complete without some controversy. On April 12, 1997, the Knicks led by three with only a minute remaining when then-Miami guard, Sasha Danilovic, made what appeared to be a three to tie the game. But the refs ruled that Danilovic's foot was on the line and determined that the basket was only worth two points. TV replays did show that the call was, in fact, correct. The Knicks won that game by one but Miami got the last laugh and when they won the Atlantic Division by four games. Yes young'ns, refs were actually able to make close but correct calls back in the days before instant replay was instituted.
P.J. Brown vs. Charlie Ward
Date: 5/14/1997
It all started with something as simple as jocking for position to grab a rebound. During Game 5 of the 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Charlie Ward and P.J. Brown got into a bit of a wrestling match in the paint. Soon after, Brown flipped Ward on the baseline hardwood and all hell broke lose. New York was leading the series 3-1 at the time, but lost Game 5. After leaving the bench during the scuffle, Ward, Patrick Ewing, and Allan Houston were suspended for Game 6; Larry Johnson and John Starks were suspended for Game 7 (Brown was suspended for both games). The Knicks lost both games and the series. But as all of you basketball enthusiats know, this was only a tune-up for what was going to happen the very next year...
Hold On For Dear Life!
Date: 4/13/1998
Poor Jeff Van Gundy. He had a 430-318 record as a coach and he's an entertaining color commentator. But whenever someone wants to bring down the younger Van Gundy brother a couple of notches, all they have to do is show the video of the brawl that took place during the 1998 Eastern Conference First Round. Yeah, the fight that took place that night was between Miami's Alonzo Mourning and New York's Larry Johnson, but the real star of the whole fracas was Jeff tapping into his innermost primal instincts by latching onto Mourning's leg like a koala or monkey. Still, his older brother may still hold the crown for the most awkward player-coach moment.
H20 FTW!
Date: 5/16/1999
Talk about irony. In a lockout-shortened season, the eighth-seeded Knicks squared off against the first-seed Heat in the first round of the 1999 NBA Playoffs. During the deciding Game 5 matchup, Miami was holding onto a slim 77-76 lead with only 4.5 seconds left. Then, Allan Houston hit a clutch teardrop shot that secured the surprising series win. For that brief moment, all New Yorkers were in love with Houston...the rest of the time, they just saw the guy as one of the worst free agent signings in NBA history. Oh, the joys of playing in the Big City.
The 2000 Eastern Conference Semis Battle
Date: 5/7-5/21/2000
Unlike that debacle of a game on Saturday, Heat vs. Knicks playoff games used always bring drama. In the 2000 Eastern Conference Semis, the Knicks won the series 4-3 and every single game was decided by eight points or fewer. In fact, three of those were by a mere two points or less. Here's to hoping that this current series can go the distance too...but we're not that optimistic.
Wade Drops 55 on the Knicks
Date: 4/12/2009
It seems like whenever a star player faces the Knicks, they always make damn sure to bring their "A" game. D-Wade added to the already growing tradition, on April 12, 2009, when he scored a career-high 55 points with nine rebounds and four assists in a 122-105 victory over New York. Of course, this wasn't the first time a big-name NBA baller had a great game against the Knickerbockers and this definitely won't be the last. You've been warned.
LeBron's First MSG Appearance After Joining the Heat
Date: 12/17/2010
After the spectacle that was "The Decision," LeBron James left a bitter taste in the collective mouth of New Yorkers everywhere. When Bron Bron made his first appearance at MSG after that "The Decision," the Knick faithful let him have it. How did King James respond? By messing around and getting a triple-double—32 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists—while leading the Heat to a 113-91 win. We hate on King James pretty often, but there's no denying that dude is a beast.
The Heat vs. the new-look Knicks
Date: 2/27/2011
On February 22, 2011, the Knicks traded just about everything for Carmelo Anthony. That move restored hope in a franchise that hadn't made the playoffs in seven years. After the trade, Knicks fans felt that they had a legit chance against the Big 3 of the Heat. In their first game against Miami, the new-look Knickerbockers lived up to the hype and pulled out a 91-86 victory after Amar'e Stoudemire rejected Bron Bron's potential game-winner.