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 On the Court: Knicks needed Game 1
Posted: Thursday June 17, 1999 01:34 AM
By Marty Burns, Sports Illustrated SAN ANTONIO -- Some thoughts with Game 1 of the '99 NBA Finals in the books. 1. They said all the right things afterward, but privately the Knicks admit they badly needed to win Game 1 to have a realistic chance of upsetting the Spurs. It's the reason why they were willing to start Larry Johnson even though his sore right knee probably could have used the rest. "We need this game to make [the Spurs] think about us," New York assistant coach Don Chaney admitted beforehand. "We need to take away some of their confidence." 2. The Finals are a game of adjustments; credit the Spurs with winning an early strategic volley. The Knicks tried to avoid foul trouble by "fronting" Tim Duncan on occasion, and then bringing the double team from the weak side. The gamble paid off early as Duncan and Robinson each made turnovers, leading to fast break baskets by the Knicks. But San Antonio eventually adjusted, having Avery Johnson pass to David Robinson in the high post first, then having Robinson lob the ball to Duncan. 3. Say what you want about New York coach Jeff Van Gundy, but he's nothing if not brave. After Jaren Jackson nailed a 3-ball late in the third quarter, Van Gundy grimaced and looked disgustedly at Latrell Sprewell, who had left Jackson open to double down on Tim Duncan. Given Spree's history with coaches, that might not have been the wisest thing to do. He must have figured he was safe with 39,000 witnesses in the Alamodome. Check back before Game 2 for another edition of On the Court.
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