1994: Patrick Ewing vs. Hakeem Olajuwon (greatest Center matchup of NBA Finals History)

[NYK-Mentality85]

At least within my era (imo).

Hakeem got the best of my hero #33 during game 7.

(only because John freaking Starks went 2-18 shooting during game 7 ).

Nonetheless I've never witnessed another war down low within the paint quite like Hakeem vs Ewing of 94' and not ever since (both in their absolute primes).

Hakeem: 188 points, 64 rebounds, 27 blocks, 26 fouls, 11 steals, 75/150 (FG% of .500%).

P. Ewing: 132 points, 87 rebounds, 30 blocks, 29 fouls, 9 steals, 58/150 (FG% of .386%).

Hakeem got the best of #33 but those two legendary HOF Centers of the 90's went to absolute war against one another within the paint and for 7 games too. I was only 9 years old and I still remember like yesterday. Win or lose (we lost) I'm still proud of Patrick Ewing, I'll never forgive Starks for stealing a ring from Ewing and NYC and I'll always and forever respect and appreciate Hakeem Olajuwon man.

Ever seen anything quite like that battle of the Centers before?

It was unreal to me. I'm now 36 and I'll never forget 27 years ago as a 9 year old kid I had tears in my eyes when we lost game 7 and all of Queens became quiet. Now 27 years later it still hurts but I can now appreciate what I witnessed.

Props to you Houston fans man Hakeem was a great one and imo more skilled and talented than Shaquille O'Neal (just my opinion).

[DoctorX]

I'm 37 and also had tears in my eyes back in 95 as an 11 year old when Olajuwon took out the Spurs. I know the feeling too well. Fortunately the Spurs went on to win multiple titles afterwards so it's not painful to revisit but until they won the first title it was a pretty painful memory.

[NYK-Mentality85]

I'm 37 and also had tears in my eyes back in 95 as an 11 year old when Olajuwon took out the Spurs. I know the feeling too well. Fortunately the Spurs went on to win multiple titles afterwards so it's not painful to revisit but until they won the first title it was a pretty painful memory.

Damn yo. Hakeem the dream made both of us cry as kids son. Crazy right.

I didn't watch that series I was an Eastern Conference guru as a kid only watched eastern conference games. Let me guess. Hakeem the dream got the best of DAVID ROBINSON too?

I don't care what anyone tells me. Hakeem was greater than Shaq and the greatest Center ever (of my 90s generation).

Because he did more with less.

PS: I love how your Spurs built your dynasty. People assume you all TANKED for Tim Duncan #1 overall. But you guys never did. David Robinson got hurt the year before I think 96 and played less than 10 games. You guys played hard without him. But just couldn't win without Robinson and I don't think you guys even had the worst record but got lucky with the ping pongs for Duncan. And with Parker/Manu/Kawhi? None of those players were TANKED FOR because none of them were top 10 draft picks. I respect that so much you have no idea.

#Pops is the greatest HC of All-Time better than Phil Jackson because his 5 is more impressive than Phil's 100 with MJ/Pippen/Rodman/Kukoc/Kobe/Shaq etc etc give Pops his Chicago and LAL teams and Pops would have way more than 5 rings.

PS: We wouldn't have beat you guys in 1999 but I wish we had Ewing vs you. Before getting hurt Patrick led us in points, rebounds and blocked shots and was still super impactful. We couldn't have beat your Spurs but it would've just been pretty cool to see old man Ewing vs. old man Robinson. Just one more time.

[DCasey91]

Lightening struck the bottle in the final game. Hakeem for me had maybe his top 3 passing game ever and Starks couldn’t hit water if he fell out of boat.

Exciting series. Ewing is a gun defensively. Him and a Drexler/Allen equivalent would have been right there for me.

Actually the Pacers vs Knicks was a dogfight too.

Tough tough game but you can tell the big differences now between then and today’s systems.

[djsunyc]

ewing and olajuwon had really a weak supporting cast too.

[Knightfall]

Lightening struck the bottle in the final game. Hakeem for me had maybe his top 3 passing game ever and Starks couldn’t hit water if he fell out of boat.

Exciting series. Ewing is a gun defensively. Him and a Drexler/Allen equivalent would have been right there for me.

Actually the Pacers vs Knicks was a dogfight too.

Tough tough game but you can tell the big differences now between then and today’s systems.

Just think of Reggie Miller would have signed with the Knicks like was the plan in the summer of 96 before the NY gm screwed up amd figured to over pay allan Houston because he was younger and more athletic. SMH.

[HotRocks34]

I was in an upstate New York bar watching most of the series, and rooting for the Rockets. Think I watched all 7 games there.

By the end of the series, I know people in the bar basically hated me. If it had been a bar in Philly or northeastern Pennsylvania and it was Rockets/Sixers, I probably would have gotten kicked out of the bar.

Great series. Hakeem was Hakeem.

Knicks were a heck of a team, felt bad for them. They finally didn't have to deal with Jordan but then they had to face Hakeem.

[NYK-Mentality85]

Lightening struck the bottle in the final game. Hakeem for me had maybe his top 3 passing game ever and Starks couldn’t hit water if he fell out of boat.

Exciting series. Ewing is a gun defensively. Him and a Drexler/Allen equivalent would have been right there for me.

Actually the Pacers vs Knicks was a dogfight too.

Tough tough game but you can tell the big differences now between then and today’s systems.

Just think of Reggie Miller would have signed with the Knicks like was the plan in the summer of 96 before the NY gm screwed up amd figured to over pay allan Houston because he was younger and more athletic. SMH.

Yeah man. Ewing always lacked a 2nd superstar but unfortunately Reggie Miller wouldn't have been available in 94 to save Starks from shooting Ewing 2/18 out of a ring.

And I absolutely despised everything about Reggie Miller. I'd rather never won a ring which we didn't before ever having to root for that rat. Misery loves company and I'm glad he never won a ring but like Jordan I respect him just wouldn't have wanted to root for him.

As a Jets fan would've been worse than having to root for Jason Taylor of the Dolphins and not as bad as rooting for Michael Vick the dog abuser. I have a pitbull. My daughters best friend. When he was our QB? I rooted for him to tear an ACL and to get murdered on the field. Literally. The only player I ever wished injury upon and Miller would've fell in the middle of Taylor/Miller/Vick. I couldn't have enjoyed him in NY.

[NYK-Mentality85]

Lightening struck the bottle in the final game. Hakeem for me had maybe his top 3 passing game ever and Starks couldn’t hit water if he fell out of boat.

Exciting series. Ewing is a gun defensively. Him and a Drexler/Allen equivalent would have been right there for me.

Actually the Pacers vs Knicks was a dogfight too.

Tough tough game but you can tell the big differences now between then and today’s systems.

Absolute postseason playoffs battles with my dude Spike Lee court side.

6 series in the 1990's.
Even split 3/3.

Trivia question:

Which Pacers/Knicks player was the X-Factor and unsung hero?

Answer:

Mark Jackson.

Boring style of play.
Most underrated PG ever.

Knicks went 3-0 vs Indiana with Jackson.
Pacers went 3-0 vs. New York with Jackson.
Knicks went 0-3 vs. Indy without Jackson.
Pacers went 0-3 vs. NY without Jackson.
Mark Jackson went 6-0 during NY/INDY series.

Most fans unless you're diehard Knicks/Hicks fans don't know that (kidding about the Hicks comment just nickname New Yorkers have Indy lol).

I loved the Miami playoffs. We whooped them 3-1 throughout 4 series those Heat fans still dislike us for that.

I hated every second of Chicago playoffs (outside of 94 when MJ23 played baseball and couldn't hit the CURVE BALL ).

Pippen was better than most realize. Took NY 7 games without the Goat and MJs first 3 years he went 0-3 with 3 consecutive seasons of losing below .500 basketball and only made the playoffs x3 because the East stunk outside of the top 3 teams the rest including Chicago was trash. Drafted Scottie Pippen 4th year and Chicago never lost again and PS: Pippen was the one who locked up Magic Johnson in the Finals I think he meant more to Chicago WINNING than MJ himself.

[K3nny Pow3rs]

Actually Pippen only guarded Magic for HALF of Game 2.
Jordan was in foul trouble and that was the only time Pippen guarded Magic.

Jordan guarded Magic for the entire series other than that.
So Pippen was WORSE than what most people realize.

Also, 1990 NBA Playoffs, Chicago vs. Detroit, Game 7:
Pippen played 42 minutes........2 points........2 assists........4 rebounds.

I can cherry pick stats too. Because as an NYK fan I witnessed MJ23 have off nights too.

Michael Jordan 1993 Playoffs vs New York Knicks

3/18 from the field (embarrassing FG% of.167%).



It was Scottie Pippen who beat us going 10/12 from the field (insane FG% of .833%), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 29 points and LOCK DOWN DEFENSE.



1992-1993: Pippen with Jordan = 57-25.
1993-1994: Pippen without Jordan = 55-27.

Pippen put up MVP numbers and led his team to only two fewer wins than the year before while Jordan was playing baseball.

That 1993-1994 Bulls teams reminds me of the Derrick Rose Bulls teams, great regular season teams.
We've seen those teams many times before, falling short in the playoffs, because they are pretenders.
Milwaukee in past years, and the pre-Kawhi Raptors teams are great examples of Pippen's Bulls.

Knicks vs. Bulls 1993, Game 3:
Jordan 22 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 3-18 field, 38 minutes.
Pippen 29 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 0 steals, 1 block, 10-12 field, 32 minutes.
Who played better?

[Currygoat]

Lol at sub 30 percent FG from a big man.

[Galloisdaman]

I felt like Hakeem was getting more help guarding Patrick than Patrick was getting with Hakeem. Patrick often had to worry about help coming from Thorpe, Herrera, and Horry. Hakeem definitely had the better offensive series though. Patrick had more rebounds and blocks. It honestly was a strange series including the crazy OJ chase scene in the middle of a game. I do not think either team played well. Hakeem shot well but hardly anyone else did on either team. Starks didnt. Greg Anthony didn't. Maxwell didnt. Horry didnt. Kenny Smith didn't. Mario Ellie didn't. I felt like the xfactor in that finals was a young Sam Cassel. He was the X factor because he was actually making shots.

[BenoUdrihFTL]

I remember Gm5 being interrupted for the OJ white Bronco chase lol

Brutal defensive battle, especially rough series for the supporting casts. We all know about Starks but Vernon Maxwell had one of the worst offensive series I've ever seen from an NBA starter -- and he was Houston's #2. Kenny Smith and Horry were also atrocious

Derek Harper was the bright spot for NYK. 3rd best player in the series (or even 2b behind Ewing's 2a) and the way the narrative was evolving throughout the series, I wouldn't have been surprised if Harper won FMVP had the Knicks pulled out Gm7

[70sFan]

1964 Russell vs Wilt is still the best center matchup in finals history. Both are top 10 players ever and both were at their best in 1964. No other matchup matches these two criteria.

Other mentions:

1967 Wilt Chamberlain vs Nate Thurmond
1970 Wilt Chamberlain vs Willis Reed
1971 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Wes Unseld
1974 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Dave Cowens
1983 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Moses Malone
1995 Hakeem Olajuwon vs Shaquille O'Neal

[thebigbird]

Better than Shaq/Hakeem in 1995? I get that Shaq got swept in that series, but Patrick Ewing scored 19 ppg on 39% TS in that series in 1994. That’s… not great.

1995 had Shaq put up 28/13/6/3 on 61% TS and Hakeem put up 33/12/6/2 on 51% TS.

[homecourtloss]

Lightening struck the bottle in the final game. Hakeem for me had maybe his top 3 passing game ever and Starks couldn’t hit water if he fell out of boat.

Exciting series. Ewing is a gun defensively. Him and a Drexler/Allen equivalent would have been right there for me.

Actually the Pacers vs Knicks was a dogfight too.

Tough tough game but you can tell the big differences now between then and today’s systems.

Just think of Reggie Miller would have signed with the Knicks like was the plan in the summer of 96 before the NY gm screwed up amd figured to over pay allan Houston because he was younger and more athletic. SMH.

Yeah man. Ewing always lacked a 2nd superstar but unfortunately Reggie Miller wouldn't have been available in 94 to save Starks from shooting Ewing 2/18 out of a ring.

And I absolutely despised everything about Reggie Miller. I'd rather never won a ring which we didn't before ever having to root for that rat. Misery loves company and I'm glad he never won a ring but like Jordan I respect him just wouldn't have wanted to root for him.

As a Jets fan would've been worse than having to root for Jason Taylor of the Dolphins and not as bad as rooting for Michael Vick the dog abuser. I have a pitbull. My daughters best friend. When he was our QB? I rooted for him to tear an ACL and to get murdered on the field. Literally. The only player I ever wished injury upon and Miller would've fell in the middle of Taylor/Miller/Vick. I couldn't have enjoyed him in NY.

Knicks needed one more talented offensive player, but they never got him. As it is, they took the Bulls to 7 games in 1992 with total points scored exactly even through 6 games, and then they led 2-0 in 1993, Jordan had a terrible game 3 but Pippen winds up playing one of his best games ever in game 3, Knicks throw away opportunity after in game 5 at home and lose the series. Bulls got to play that Knicks team with two top 10 players whereas the Knicks only had Ewing and defense. Imagine the Knicks with another top 10 or top 15 player—history might be very different.

But then there’s 1994. Knicks again had an all-time great defense and Bulls didn’t have Jordan, but the Bulls played the Knicks to a standstill and even outscored the Knicks over 7 games with every and save two being very close and of course game 5 with the controversial ending. Imagine the Bulls with a decent replacement over Pete Myers—they very well could have won the title without Jordan.

Their 1994 series vs. the Pacers could have easily seen the Pacers in 6 if not for one of Starks’s best games ever In game 6 after the Knicks completely threw away game 5 in that fourth quarter though Miller was making everything.

Then that Knicks—Rockets series. If Ewing plays better, they win the title. Olajuwon played a great series given the defense and Ewing didn’t. They also win if Starks is even decent in game 7, but the Knicks could have won that game 6 in a Houston when Starks played another great game and Ewing couldn’t hit anything.

[MaxZaslofskyJr]

Hakeem Olajuwon won two championships with the Rockets.
Here are two items that say all you need to know about Patrick Ewing:
_Ed Pinckney
_unfulfilled guarantees

[jstudabaka]

People dog Ewing about this series, but the reality is the Knicks were a Starks 3 at the end of game 6 from victory

[Scalabrine]

ewing and olajuwon had really a weak supporting cast too.

This is what bothers me most about ranking all of those guys in basketballs history. Ewing never had anything close to the supporting casts that the guys he gets compared to had. In his prime, the best players he played with were Mark Jackson, Charles Oakley, and Jon Starks. All solid players but none were the second options that Shaq, the Admiral, Mourning, etc. had.

[djsunyc]

ewing and olajuwon had really a weak supporting cast too.

This is what bothers me most about ranking all of those guys in basketballs history. Ewing never had anything close to the supporting casts that the guys he gets compared to had. In his prime, the best players he played with were Mark Jackson, Charles Oakley, and Jon Starks. All solid players but none were the second options that Shaq, the Admiral, Mourning, etc. had.

ewing definitely ranks in the top 10 of most underappreciated great players of all time. considering he had to play in the pressure cooker of nyc, many other stars would've crumbled.