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Friendly foes Ewing, Mourning share friendship, drive
Posted: Thursday May 04, 2000 11:34 PM
MIAMI (AP) -- Patrick Ewing is Alonzo Mourning's hero, mentor, friend, foe and fan. "Alonzo's a great player, definitely the best center in the East -- next to me," Ewing says. At 37, Ewing has earned the right to brag a bit, even if in jest. He plays in his 125th NBA playoff game Sunday when the New York Knicks begin their second-round series against Mourning and the Miami Heat. The series renews perhaps the league's most bruising, bitter rivalry. At the center of the tempest is an unusual bond shared by Ewing and Mourning, two former Georgetown Goliaths who have put their friendship aside in the playoffs each of the past four seasons. "He always plays aggressive against me, even in the summertime," Ewing says. "I feel the elbows, I feel everything." The series could swing on the play of the two centers, both wearing No. 33. With Miami point guard Tim Hardaway bothered by a sore foot and unlikely to provide much scoring, the Heat will be looking for plenty of offense from Mourning. If Ewing can match his counterpart's production, the Knicks may have the edge thanks to superior talent on the perimeter. Mourning, 30, was runnerup for the NBA's MVP award last year, and his statistics were comparable this season -- 21.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game. He is respected for his tireless effort, smothering defense and improved offense, and yet some still regard him as underrated. "Zo never gets enough credit," Philadelphia 76ers coach Larry Brown says. "He's such a dominating guy at both ends, and he plays so hard." One rap on the emotional Mourning is that he's prone to lose his cool, a trait that has haunted him in the playoffs. Dennis Rodman rattled Mourning two years in a row in postseason defeats, and in 1998 a suspension for fighting forced him to watch from the bench as Miami lost the deciding fifth game to New York. A big series against the Knicks now would help his reputation. "I'm not even looking at it like that, man," Mourning says. "I'm not worried about any individual fame or progress. I'm just worried about being on the floor, not being in foul trouble and doing what I can to help us win." While Mourning's arm-flexing and fist-pumping can deteriorate into flailing frustration, the dour Ewing seems unflappable. But Ewing likes Mourning's approach. "His emotion is what's gotten him to where he is," Ewing says. "He's been playing great, so you don't worry about that stuff." Ewing, thanks to good health, is coming off his most productive season in three years. He played in 62 regular-season games and averaged 15.0 points and 9.7 rebounds. Last year, he struggled through the playoffs with sore ribs but still had his moments, leading New York with 22 points and 11 rebounds in the decisive Game 5 against Miami. "I was hurting a lot," he says. "Now I feel pretty good. I'm as healthy as I'm going to be. I plan on going through the series playing well." After 15 NBA seasons, the desire to win a championship keeps Ewing going. Miami's Pat Riley, who coached Ewing in New York from 1991 to 1995, says the Knicks center remains a formidable force. "Since I coached him, the only thing that has changed with Pat is his age, and the fact that injuries set him back for a couple of years," Riley says. "I haven't seen anybody age better than him." Still, it's hard to argue that Ewing is now better than Mourning. Ewing is an 11-time All-Star, but he hasn't made the team since 1997. Mourning became the Eastern Conference starter for the first time this year. "Mourning has been the best player in the Eastern Conference this year, hands down," Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy says. "It's not even close." So was Ewing's boast about being the conference's best center in jest? "I believe what I want to believe; y'all believe what y'all want to believe," Ewing says. "Of course Zo is going to think he's the best center in the East. He knows he's great, I know I'm great. The objective is to go out and win." By that definition, the best center in the East will be the one still playing in the next round.
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