Patrick Ewing - Valiant Effort vs. Mourning and the Heat (37 Points, 1997 ECSF Game 7)

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199705180MIA.html

May 18th, 1997

What better date than Friday the 13th to kick off my new playlist series "Valiant Effort" Patrick Ewing poured in 37 points and 17 rebounds to singlehandedly keep the Knicks from being defeated by 30+ points. The Heat won the Game to overcome a 3-1 deficit and head to the ECF. This series was infamous for the suspensions that took place late in the series after a brawl. I would say this was Patrick's last above average season in the NBA, and this was one of his finest games of his career. Unfortunately his effort was for nothing as Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway both scored efficiently to counter Ewing's 1 man show. This game prevented a strongly hyped and hoped for Knicks/Bulls ECF. Would have been a fantastic series compared to what the Heat/Bulls gave us. The knicks really should have won this game, and this series. Ewing wanted it badly. More of the Valiant Effort Series to come.

Category:

Sports

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• patrick
• ewing
• new
• york
• knicks
• valiant
• effort
• ve
• allan
• houston
• john
• starks
• charles
• oakley
• miami
• heat
• alonzo
• mourning
• tim
• hardaway
• dan
• marjele
• 37
• points
• 1997
• ecsf
• game
• basketball
• karlmalowned32

[shaft226]

I remember this game very well, if it wasn't for David Stern; The Knicks would have taken down the Bulls that year. Miami won this battle but they lost the war

[jaymum23]

@NYJYIK This loss was horrible. I was physically ill the next day, and missed school. While I have come to appreciate MJ much more in the years since, he was the enemy to me at that time. The Knicks and Bulls were destined to meet in an epic 7 game series, reminiscent of 1992. Patrick Ewing was a man possessed in 96-97. This entire series against the Heat, he put on a Jordan-esque performance. He was robbed by Stern, let down by his team in Game 7. He was the best player on the floor.

[AxonMoses]

If Ewing spent more of his prime playing like this (close to the basket, lots of offensive rebounding) he would have a ring, alas he wanted to be a jump shooter

[NYJYIK]

This series was a devastating loss. Even the Bulls mocked the Heat in the next series an said they werent playing the right team. Everyone was geared for Knicks vs Bulls.

[waitsone]

Ewing was in BEAST mode! Man that was the year the 97 Eastern Finals should have been the Bulls vs the Knicks. That 97 Knick squad was very good and was destined to take the Jordan Bulls down, until P.J. Brown started that fight and got half the Knicks Suspended for game 6 and 7.

[GunGemini]

My fav CENTER was David Robinson, but i always wanted Ewing to win a ring aswell. ONE OF THE BEST EVER

[Juaner33]

Awesome!! What a game of the beast of east. what a great era of big centers...

[Gremlin212332]

Classic Moment Bro. Subbed to Ya.

Hope to see some more classic Moments from you.

Peep my vid's if you get a chance.