1997–98 New York Knicks season

1997–98 New York Knicks season
Head coach Jeff Van Gundy
General manager Ernie Grunfeld
Owner(s) Cablevision
Arena Madison Square Garden
Results
Record 43–39 (.524)
Place Division: 2nd
Conference: 7th
Playoff finish Lost in Eastern Conference Semifinals to Indiana Pacers, 4–1
Local media
Television MSG Network
Radio WFAN

The 1997–98 New York Knicks season was the 52nd season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Knicks had a 43–39 record, which placed them in a tie for second in the Atlantic Division.[1] Despite their lowest winning percentage since the 1990–91 season,[2] the team qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the seventh seed.[3] They also hosted the 1998 NBA All-Star Game.[4]

The season saw center Patrick Ewing break his wrist trying to catch an alley-oop during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 20th.[5] The injury kept Ewing out for the rest of the regular season and the entire first-round series against the Miami Heat. Ewing did return for game 2 against the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals.[6]

The 1998 NBA Playoffs matched the Knicks against the Heat, who had eliminated the Knicks in the 1997 playoffs in a series that featured a brawl during Game 5.[7][8] The altercation led to the suspension of six players, including five Knicks.[9] In the 1998 series, another brawl occurred in the closing seconds of Game 4, which the Knicks won to even the series at two games each. Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning exchanged punches, and Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy clung to one of Mourning's legs at one point in an attempt to separate the two.[10] Three players were suspended for Game 5, including Johnson, Mourning, and forward Chris Mills, who left the bench during the fight.[11] New York won Game 5 to advance to the second round, where it lost to the Pacers in five games.[1]

NBA Draft

Main article: 1997 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 25 John Thomas PF  United States Minnesota

Roster

New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
SG 13 United States Bowie, Anthony 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Oklahoma
PG 1 United States Childs, Chris 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Boise State
PF 25 United States Cummings, Terry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) DePaul
PF 4 United States Davis, Ben 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Arizona
C 14 United States Dudley, Chris 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Yale
C 33 United States Ewing, Patrick 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Georgetown
SG 20 United States Houston, Allan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Tennessee
SF 2 United States Johnson, Larry 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 250 lb (113 kg) UNLV
SF 42 United States Mills, Chris 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Arizona
PF 34 United States Oakley, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Virginia Union
SG 3 United States Starks, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Oklahoma State
PG 7 United States Thompson, Brooks 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) Oklahoma State
PG 21 United States Ward, Charlie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Florida State
PF 52 United States Williams, Buck 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Maryland
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Season standings

Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Miami Heat 55 27 .671 – 30-11 25–16 18–6
x-New York Knicks 43 39 .524 12 28–13 15–26 13–11
x-New Jersey Nets 43 39 .524 12 26–15 17–24 12–12
Washington Wizards 42 40 .512 13 24–17 18–23 12–13
Orlando Magic 41 41 .500 14 24–17 17–24 11–13
Boston Celtics 36 46 .439 19 24–17 12–29 12–23
Philadelphia 76ers 31 51 .378 24 19–22 12–29 7–17

Playoffs

East First Round

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks Last Playoff Meeting: 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Miami won 4–3)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(MIA-NYK)

 Venue Box score Television
1 April 24 Miami 94 New York 79 1–0 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 1 TBS 7:00et
2 April 26 Miami 86 New York 96 1–1 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 2 NBC 12:30et
3 April 28 New York 85 Miami 91 2–1 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 3 TBS 7:00et
4 April 30 New York 90 Miami 85 2–2 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 4 TNT 8:00et
5 May 3 Miami 81 New York 98 2–3 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida 5 NBC 12:30et
New York wins series 3–2

East Conference Semifinals

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (7) New York Knicks Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Indiana won 4–3)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(IND-NYK)

 Venue Box score Television
1 May 5 Indiana 93 New York 83 1–0 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 1 TNT 8:00et
2 May 7 Indiana 85 New York 77 2–0 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 2 TNT 8:00et
3 May 9 New York 83 Indiana 76 2–1 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 3 NBC 1:00et
4 May 10 New York 107 Indiana 118 3–1 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 4 NBC 12:30et
5 May 13 Indiana 99 New York 88 4–1 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 5 TNT 7:00et
Indiana wins series 4–1

Awards and records

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "1997–98 New York Knickerbockers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
  2. ↑ "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  3. ↑ "1997–98 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  4. ↑ Iannazzone, Al (2013-09-24). "League source: Knicks, Nets to co-host NBA All-Star Weekend in 2015". Newsday. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  5. ↑ Roberts, Selena (December 22, 1997). "Pro Basketball; Wrist Surgery Sidelines Ewing For the Season". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  6. ↑ Tatum, Kevin (May 10, 1998). "Knicks Prevail With Childs' Help". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  7. ↑ "1997 NBA Playoffs Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  8. ↑ Wise, Mike (May 15, 1997). "Not for the Faint-Hearted: Knicks-Heat Turns Nasty". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  9. ↑ Wise, Mike (May 16, 1997). "5 Knicks Barred for Melee; 3 to Miss Game 6". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  10. ↑ Sutton, Larry; Standora, Leo (May 1, 1998). "Knicks & Heat Slug It Out Johnson–mourning Fight Clears The Benches". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
  11. ↑ "Tough play big part of Rileyball". Associated Press (The Augusta Chronicle). May 3, 1998. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
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