Starks for 3 yessss!!!! Knicks win knicks win New York knicks are the 93 94 NBA champions John starks finals MVP .... 😔😔😔😔 dam I wish this was true we all dream it was
@@Kjking22346 Patrick Ewing didn't even average 20 points in the finals. Hakeem destroyed him. If patrick averages at least 25 points per game we win that series. Is that too much to ask? Starks took the attention off Ewing in that game 7 debacle
I mean this in the most respectful, credit where credit is due way: Starks maximized his talent. The man was gutsy and gave it his all. Streaky or not, he played his damn heart out.
I am from Houston so this was one of the greatest moments for me. I remember Starks was on fire and I was thinking " oh shit he's going to make it" but out of the blue Hakeem came out of nowhere to save the day.
This is so heartbreaking to watch, I fantasize about that shot going in lol...."It's good! It's all over! The Knicks are the Champions for the first time in 21 years!"
The worst is to see how bad are our Knicks now. We need a miracle, we need people who really love our team on the staff, sad the owner doesn't sell the club cause he obviously doesn't know nothing bout basket-ball.
@gothatway09 If Jordan hadn't retired, the Rockets still would have won. Why? One reason: Hakeem Olajuwon. The Bulls had NO answers for Olajuwon. Look what he did to Ewing and Shaq. Imagine if that were Cartwright and Perdue. He would have chewed them up and spit them out
Still haunts me. My Knicks were so close. Such a great team. No shame in coming up short to MJ & The Dream. If not for those legends, I think NY gets at least 1 ring in that era.
The way Mr. Starks played epitomized those Knicks teams of the early 90's. Ewing was the superstar, but Starks, Mase (May his soul rest.) and the Oak-Man were the heart of those teams and the reason why I still love the Knicks even though they've sucked for more than a decade and a half.
I Grew up a Bulls fan and even though they beat my Bulls (without Jordan) that year, I was pulling for them. They gave the 3 time champs a tough game years before and this year in 94, I thought they had this series. Knicks deserved a Championship! Sorry New York.
The organization let him down by not bringing back wilkins and mcdaniels for the season before...it's not starks fault it's the cheap management for not understanding that they had a super team in 92 that literally pushed peak mj to the brink...not bringing them back together was a huge mistake....they really should of won the 93 and 94 titles had the gm understood his roster was amazing in 92 and getting better...they went up 2-0 on the 93 bulls without them....
Ewing lay up - Oakley Turnover throwing to Starks - Starks coming off that screen and not shooting in the final minute- we make those plays the NY KNICKS are world Champs - Heartbreaking but loved that team GO NY GO NY GOOOOOOOOOO 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
wow!,starks was on 🔥,he's my favorite knick of all-time,if ewing would've shot better and played better defense,could've,should've,would've,i had my heart broken so many times in the 90's by this team😭
18 years later shit still hurts.. he carried them the whole 4th quarter ON FIRE.. can you imagine if dis shot goes in and the Knicks finally win a fukin title !! it would've been one of most epic clutch 4th quarters of all time.. Starks would've been the mayor.. lol so sick..
***** What do you mean the Rockets didn't have the edge on the bench? The bench is what won them game 3 at the garden and kept them in game 6. The Knicks were the more physical team no doubt. Rockets just were clutch in certain situations...and here we are 21 years later and they STILL don't get credit at being better when it mattered, and I mean in general not trying to single you out.
All in all, Starks showed up to play in these finals & I could never take that away from. Yes, he had a terrible Game 7 & we lost but they were still champs in my heart no matter what! Fast forwarding now 2013, we are in the second half of the season, let's make these adjustments & play inspired Knick basketball like this team did! Go NY Go NY Go!!!
Saw this series when it happened and loved every minute. Being from Houston, I was glad the Rockets won but I had a lot of respect for the Knicks and would not have wanted the Rockets to play any other team. I just loved the match ups with these teams: Hakeem vs Patrick and Starks vs Maxwell. Interesting similarities and differences that cancelled them out: Oakley being the heart of the Knicks' team and Thorpe an anchor for the Rockets team. Both guys were known for perfect attendance in the regular season and the playoffs only Oakley played more games than Thorpe that year. Oakley was the heart of the Knicks whereas Vernon Maxwell was the heart of the Rockets . I had predicted the team match up at the beginning of the season. Both teams were defensive power houses. The Knicks were the better defensive team whereas the Rockets were a bit more athletic. Rudy T. emphasized defense with the Rockets which put them up among the top five. Our starting front court was comparable in size although with Robert Horry losing weight in the off season that year it wasn't as much of a mirror image but with Thorpe up there and being as big as he was we were almost as big as the Knicks. Both teams were very emotional and expressed themselves out on the open court. Nice series. No shame for the Knicks, they were a formidable foe.
Hakeem was so good during this stretch of his career. As great as Ewing was, Hakeem shut down his offensive game. Ewing had his moments defensively (he crashed the boards well and had a ton of blocks in this series--he almost played like the Georgetown version of Ewing) but really struggled offensively outside of Game 5.
Knicks fan here, and you are absolutely correct. Ewing’s defense and rebounds were exceptional, he set the record for blocks in a series at that time. However, like you said he couldn’t give us much offense.
The Knicks normally don't get blown out all that much in the playoffs than they do during the regular season. The start of the 4 quarter and the Knicks are only down by 3 points, damn that Championship was there for the taking.
I agree. Starks dominated the fourth quarter in Games 4, 5 and 6. Without that, I think the series wouldn't have even made it back to Houston. And with the way he was shooting that night, there was no way he was missing that final shot if Hakeen hadn't gotten his finger on it. I put Game 7 all on Riley...he saw Starks was struggling, he had Rolando and Hubert Davis on the bench, players who had seen some playoff action. He could have given one of them a shot. Oh well, we'll never know.
Fate is a cruel mistress. Starks and Knicks deserved to win atleast one title. I can't really say this one coz am big fan of Hakeem. But damn, if ever there was one to win!! Starks is still a champ in my book, MAD HEART. The NBA needs more of that now days!
Nobody gives a crap how well Starks played unless he won the whole thing I love Starks but really what do u think he will be remember for most, playing well during a whole series ot losing the big one
Wow, brings back memories. First, I got out of the military in March 1994, and I remember those playoffs well. This was also the first time in awhile when you had no idea who was gonna win the title. Sure the Bulls had challenges in previous years, but you pretty much knew Jordan was gonna pull it out. This series was a coin flip, glad you posted it.
those Knicks teams were the greatest in my lifetime to not win a title... really actually makes me sick to this day... a day late and a buck short like 8 years in a row
I will forever believe that if Hakeem doesnt block that shot....Starks makes it. He was on fire in this game. Just a great play by Olajuwon. Game 7 though was such a disaster. Starks w/his 2-18 game....yet even with that awful shooting the game wasnt decided until the final minute. What if Starks could have made even just two more shots, or what if Riley had pulled him and went with Hubert Davis. So close, yet so far.
It's still so painful. Every time I see it, I wish it would change. I wish Starks got that shot off clean. I have no doubt it was going in. Starks couldn't miss in the 4th quarter. He shot it in rhythm, and had his shoulders square to the basket. Stupid Olajuwon's finger. The Knicks backcourt completely dominated this series. I LOVE Ewing, one of my all time favorite players, but he was no match for Hakeem, who in my opinion, is the greatest center to ever play the game. Plus I felt like Ewing forced a lot of shots 2:30, I have no idea why Ewing didn't dunk that, but it's a HORRIBLE call anyway. Pause at 2:47 and you can CLEARLY see that ball is off the rim, and not within the cylinder. Should've been 2 points for The Knicks!
MAN!!! Painful Isn't Even The Word!!! Smh...I Also Think, What If Starks Jumped Into Olajuwon And Drew The Foul Behind The 3-Point Line, Therefore Sending Him To The Line To Hit 3 Free Throws.
***** It's rough man. This game, and Game 5 of the 1993 ECF where Charles Smith can't make a fucking layup to win the game still give me nightmares. I hadn't seen Game 5 in 20 years, until MSG started running "Knicks Greatest Rivalries", and showed that game. It still pissed me off so much to the point where I couldn't sleep that night lol. You'd think after 20 years I could just let that go. still hurts. Probably because I know guys l ike Ewing, Starks ,and Oakley will never get a ring as players, and they all deserved one!
GialloHorror Oh Yea, How Could I Forget Charles Smith Missing That Wide Open Lay Up...Smh. And Yea Man, Those Type Of Games Are Hard To Let Go...Lol. I Agree, Ewing, Starks, And Oakley ALL Deserved A Ring!! But Also Did Other Greats (Malone, Barkley, Dominique Wilkins, Stockton, Etc....).
I have never been able to bring myself to watch this until now. It still hurts 29 years later. I thought they had it in the bag as I was watching back then.
Can someone explain to me why Ewing fouled Olajuwon with :39 remaining and down only 2? My God, I'm so shocked the announcers never criticized him for an obviously boneheaded move. I don't know why I never noticed it back in '94. Perhaps Starks tapping his head wasn't him blaming himself but a subliminal message to Ewing.
@roven 08 I can't call Ewing dumb over one numbskull act. It takes a high degree of intelligence to play top tier defense, which Ewing did consistently throughout his basketball career~be it HS/College/Pros. Just wish for Knicks fans' sake (FWIW, I'm a Lakers fan but rooted for NY in these Finals) he didn't decide to lose his head at that moment...lol.
@@pgangsta357 Because they were only down 2 with :39 remaining-they could've made a stop and still had :15 remaining to win the game and championship.🤷🏿♂️
@rafaleles Man i was 7 in 1994 and he was my hero, and i cried when he missed that shot.Till this day im still haunted by that moment being a Knick fan
I was 10 years old and I realized this. The Rockets have all these guys that can shoot 3's and knock down jumpers all day. Maxwell, Horry, Kenny Smith, and as it turned out rookie Sam Cassell. How are we supposed to keep up with Starks, Oakley and Mason just kinda shoving people around and trying to use brute force? Plus Hakeem was better than Patrick.
I never watched the replay of this game until now. The football pass from oak to starks would've given them the lead if he didn't overthrow it. What I would give to see the play without Hakeem tipping starks's 3 at the end.
That shot was going straight in too, you can see it even after it was blocked the arch was perfect going foward damn !!! 😖😖😞 as a knicks fan this hurts me everytime I'm reminded of this game. We had that championship with a winning three pointer. Damn Hakeem man smh.
Actually, had the Rockets faced the Bulls in the finals, Dream Olajuwon would have had a field day. He would have played even better than he did this series, and the Rockets probably could have taken out the Bulls. Dream played like an MVP against PATRICK EWING, you don't think he could have dismantled the entire Bulls' frontcourt? Let's face it, Worm couldn't touch Hakeem.
Ohhh,great upload !!!! Great Basketball....great players....Real men !!!! Imagine Starks giving Hakeem the fake and then BOOM....but that's how life goes....great game by starks though !!!! Thanks for the upload.
I was 11 at the time of this game, and I'll never forget how heartbroken I was, as a die hard Knicks fan, when that final shot missed. I pretty much knew Houston had the series when they won this game, and couldn't even watch Game 7, with virtually knowing Game 6 was the one the Knicks had to win, but blew it. To this day this game still eats at me, and if only that shot went in, with how great things would have been, along with the 1994 baseball strike, both of which broke New York's heart.
@@DarrellC. Yeah, and sucks for both he, and Knicks fans that he saved his worst performance for the seventh, and final game of the series when they needed him to have his best game too. Of course he could have simply passed it to Ewing for an easy two in order to send the game to OT. But there's no doubt that final shot goes in if Hakeem didn't manage to block it by the skin of his fingers though.
I agree with the Comment under neath me.... I feel that he would've nailed it... this series was a exciting and tough series.... Stark's just didn't have it in game 7 but I don't blame him... Olajuwon was a monster under the basket and Ewing had his hands full with him all series... needless to say this series still breaks my Heart cuz I really wanted this KNICKS TEAM TO WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP... I REMEMBER SITTING IN MY BASEMENT JUST LAYIN ON THE FLOOR STUNNED AND SAD AS IF I JUST LOST THE SERIES.... OVER THE YEARS I HAVENT WATCHED ANY OF THESE HIGHLIGHTS CUZ IT STILL BURNS MY HEART.... HOW DID I MAKE IT BACK HERE IS BEYOND ME
Mason missed the screen for Starks, so Ewing had to step out to the perimeter late to set up a screen for Starks. That brought Olajuwon out to the 3-point line and gave him a chance to block Starks. If Mason set the screen properly, Starks could have had a wide open catch and shoot opportunity. Who knows what could of happened then.
They did not have that rule in place back then. Even on 3 point attempts, a fouled player was only awarded 2 free throws. I don't think Starks had enough time to pump fake anyway. He did the right thing by shooting it. It just wasn't meant to be.
FootballRob2010 Ohhh Yeaa...That's Right. I Forget, They Didn't. But Yea Man...Sad To Say, I Guess It Just Wasn't Meant To Be...I Agree. But Still, Had he Got That Shot Off Clean....Who Knows?? And You Can Tell It Effected Him A Lot, Because In Game 7 He Was So Off...Smh. I Felt Bad For Starks...
***** Hell yeah it affected him. He had the worst Game 7 in NBA Finals history: 2-18 shooting and 0-11 from downtown. As a heartbroken Knick fan, I will never get over that as long as I live.
FootballRob2010 Damn! I Didn't Know He Had The Worst Game 7 In NBA Finals History...Smh. I'm A Mavericks Fan, But John Starks Was One Of My Favorite Players During The 90's. Even Though He Had A Bad Game, I Still Think He Was One Of The Best Knicks To Ever Play. Personally I Think The Knicks Should Retire #3 For Starks And #34 For Oakley In The Garden. It's Only Right. They Deserve To Be Right Up There In The Rafters With Ewing.
This game is why I get pissed off when people say Starks choked in Game 7. What a load of shit. Starks had a bad Game 7, it happens. Where were the rest of his teammates? If not for Starks there wouldn't have even been 7 games. Starks scored 11,11, and 16 in the 4th quarter of games 4, 5 and 6. If Olajuwon doesn't get lucky and hit that ball with his fingertips, Starks would've been known as the guy that hit the championship winning shot. Starks was THE MAN!
Olajuwon is the best center I've ever seen. Ewing was GREAT, but he was not match for Hakeem. Olajuwon hit so many big shots. He was quick, athletic, and strong. He had the best, overall, game of any center in NBA history
Ewing was definitely no wimp in that series. He was definitely off offensively in most games (though he did hit some big shots, even a three in one or two of the games!), but he was a beast on the boards and under the basket. He even set a Finals record for blocked shots in a series. If anything, he played more like he did in his Georgetown days than as a Knick. The other problem was ball movement. The Knicks were pretty terrible on offense and didn't get the ball to the big guy enough.
damn.... :( starks was holding the knicks down in the end, fucking dream's arms were just too long for starks to make that pull-up. if starks would've made that shot that would've solidified starks to a legend, now he's jus a player we knew as a once upon a time knick. Sad :(
Starks had one of the all-time finals performances and it’s a shame that it’s going to get overshadowed by that game seven. I remember watching this and thinking for one second that Starks hit that three. Now you see that Ewing was wide open but I don’t blame Starks for taking that shot Hakeem got a finger tip on it
In my humble opinion, Riley should have designed the last shot for Ewing, no matter what. He decided to let Starks take that shot. It was a huge mistake that haunted Starks for game-7.
We actually should’ve swept New Jersey in 3 that year and we should’ve won game 3 of the 1994 ECSF against the Bulls, therefore, winning that series in 5 games. Then, maybe, either Starks would’ve hit that 3-pointer or he would’ve walked in and scored a tying 2-pointer.
When Marv Albert says a team is over the limit with fouls, is he meaning that the team is in the penalty? Other NBA play by play commentators, like Dick Stockton, his counterpart at CBS, would say, "next foul and they're in the penalty" I always thought they were one in the same but wanted clarification.
Man ... if Starks had hit the three .. my how things would have been different. Ewing and the guys would have had a ring, possibly a second. He would have been remember for winning the game and the series with his 4th quarters rather than gm 7 choake. Sigh .... although while I'm at it I'll just imagine no MJ and then I can see 4 NY titles in the 90's :)
With this said I wish the CURRENT Knicks to WIN IT Next year ! There's no place in the world like The Garden when it comes to sheer insanity and intensity in basketball (and music).
1994 Finals - FTA per game: Olajuwon 6.1 - Starks 5.6, Ewing 3.0 How on earth did Ewing average only three free throw attempts per game? I never saw the whole series, can anybody explain that to me?
On the final possession, Mason missed the initial screen of Maxwell at the top of the key, which forced Ewing out to the peremiter to try another screen. Hakeem followed Ewing, was was in perfect position to pick up Starks on the switch.
Gosh one shot at the end would have changed history. Starks hits that 3 at the buzzer he is a legend mvp & knicks win the title. Ewing has his ring. Life has a moment like that just wow. Then in game 7 starks has the worst game of his life. I wish we could switch starks game 6 & 7 performances bc game 6 the knicks are still alive if they lose. God the Knicks should have put the rockets away in ny. They went back to ny tied at 1 & should have swept all 3 at the garden. This knicks team just did not have a killer instinct. They always had this attitude like hey we are up 2 games instead of putting a team away they would seem to rest on their laurels. Every series the Knicks went 7 games. Ewing did not step up in this game. Starks was on fire this game Mason got great rebounds where was ewing. I feel bad bc Patrick deserved his ring. Starks was my favorite player & when he put up that 3 I'm sure Rudy thought it was going in he looked so frustrated after starks kept burying tough 3's . My dad & I were like omg this is it we are gonna win at the buzzer by our favorite player starks. I cried my eyes out bc I had a bad feeling about game 7. Starks was so streaky hed have a great game then bad game the whole finals. Bad great bad great. If olajuwon didnt get a piece of that shot it was going in , starks was hitting every 3 from far out. It fell short bc of olajuwon's finger touching it.
@lucasscott3 Knicks played well during the game, but the Houston Rockets was just a bit better. The last shot, had it gone in, would have won a title for the Knicks, but game seven gave Houston their first title also, and that was extraordinary.
Maybe so, but he shouldn't have made it so close. Ewing was always a little awkward in his finishing movements, unlike his counterpart Dream on the Rockets. Hakeem was a great finisher, and was a GREAT athlete with beautiful finishing moves. Just look at Pat's missed layup against the Pacers on the final play of Game 7 of the Eastern Semis the very next year at MSG as another example of his awkwardness up close around the basket.
@shadydawg555 Haha very well said, my friend. As a Knick fan from New York, I have to give props where its due. Hakeem the Dream played a great game and the Rockets were a great and formidable competitor... If anyone was to beat the Knicks, I'm glad its the Rockets. (And, as luck would have it, the Rockets happen to be my favorite team currently in the NBA. Yeah I've rooted for them and the Knicks this decade, though I'd rather not speak of the Knicks this decade).
Gotta feel bad for the guy, that is so much pressure for anyone to be under, it's inhuman expect anyone to hit such a difficult shot under such enormous pressure
Nobody thinking about this year game 6 when watching (back) this ? Switch Starks with Tony Parker and you will get it. Same situation same feeling for both guys and for the massive supporter of Hakeem The Dream I was back then (after my fave player aka THE GOAT MJ left the Bulls one year earlier after the first three-peat). I hated those Knicks with a Passion. This game was quite something to behold live, not on any Jordan play off match level but still, crazy intense and brutal.
If John starks don’t have the year he had the Knicks not even there in the chip he had a great game 6 he Hakeem don’t block it was going in but other then that starks always my favorite knick
Wtf is Ewing doing? F pulling Hakeem with 40 sec left while over the limit. Omg, typical Ewing coming up small in big time moments. That's why he ended guys career with 0 rings
Starks for 3 yessss!!!! Knicks win knicks win New York knicks are the 93 94 NBA champions John starks finals MVP .... 😔😔😔😔 dam I wish this was true we all dream it was
I hear you. I thought it had a chance as it got closer to rim. I guess knicks needed john paxton.
Patrick Ewing Finals MVP
@@Kjking22346 Patrick Ewing didn't even average 20 points in the finals. Hakeem destroyed him. If patrick averages at least 25 points per game we win that series. Is that too much to ask? Starks took the attention off Ewing in that game 7 debacle
Ewing only shot 50% plus in game 5.
I forgot how Starks was on fire in this game. But that miss at the end of this game affected him throughout the next game.
Johny Kilroy that and the three-day layoff between games 6 & 7
He had a great series except G1 and G7
I mean this in the most respectful, credit where credit is due way: Starks maximized his talent. The man was gutsy and gave it his all. Streaky or not, he played his damn heart out.
I am from Houston so this was one of the greatest moments for me. I remember Starks was on fire and I was thinking " oh shit he's going to make it" but out of the blue Hakeem came out of nowhere to save the day.
Knicks fan here, and damn, Starks almost put y’all away this game.
This is so heartbreaking to watch, I fantasize about that shot going in lol...."It's good! It's all over! The Knicks are the Champions for the first time in 21 years!"
ghariiscool now 20 becomes 40
The worst is to see how bad are our Knicks now. We need a miracle, we need people who really love our team on the staff, sad the owner doesn't sell the club cause he obviously doesn't know nothing bout basket-ball.
Now 45 :/
@gothatway09 If Jordan hadn't retired, the Rockets still would have won. Why? One reason: Hakeem Olajuwon. The Bulls had NO answers for Olajuwon. Look what he did to Ewing and Shaq. Imagine if that were Cartwright and Perdue. He would have chewed them up and spit them out
Me too. What could have been. Starks would have been a legend.
Still haunts me. My Knicks were so close. Such a great team. No shame in coming up short to MJ & The Dream. If not for those legends, I think NY gets at least 1 ring in that era.
Man we should’ve had this one
The saddest and most true part is that everybody knows that shot was going straight through....
Everyone except one of the best defenders of all time. he never made enough separation. That shot was doomed. Soz about it.
It would've hit back iron.
The way Mr. Starks played epitomized those Knicks teams of the early 90's. Ewing was the superstar, but Starks, Mase (May his soul rest.) and the Oak-Man were the heart of those teams and the reason why I still love the Knicks even though they've sucked for more than a decade and a half.
Vincent Vega well said
Vincent Vega
The heart of the team shot 2 of 18 and 0 of 11 from 3 in the decisive Game 7, when his team lost by only 6 points.
The Knicks in the early 90s were a special team. It’s still a shame for NY and the NBA they never won a title.
I Grew up a Bulls fan and even though they beat my Bulls (without Jordan) that year, I was pulling for them. They gave the 3 time champs a tough game years before and this year in 94, I thought they had this series. Knicks deserved a Championship! Sorry New York.
Thanks man
I feel so bad for Starks... He was stepping up huge for the Knicks until the final shot... and then Game 7 happened smh
Sherman Ng starks was bad in game 7. That miss ended the series imo.
The organization let him down by not bringing back wilkins and mcdaniels for the season before...it's not starks fault it's the cheap management for not understanding that they had a super team in 92 that literally pushed peak mj to the brink...not bringing them back together was a huge mistake....they really should of won the 93 and 94 titles had the gm understood his roster was amazing in 92 and getting better...they went up 2-0 on the 93 bulls without them....
I really enjoyed the series watching this live as a kid I liked the Knicks and this series put u on edge
If John Starks hits that three he's a legend but Olajuwon had other plans if only he had been screened then again shoulda coulda woulda
Starks was so close. I knew series was over after that miss. What a shame.
One of the most competitive series ever
Given how all 7 games were decided by single digits I'd say it was *THE* most competitive series.
Ewing lay up - Oakley Turnover throwing to Starks - Starks coming off that screen and not shooting in the final minute- we make those plays the NY KNICKS are world Champs - Heartbreaking but loved that team GO NY GO NY GOOOOOOOOOO 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
That put back was not an offensive goal tend by the way, but you’re right, and Ewing should’ve dunked that
@@JRAHITthats why Starks had to shoot rather than Dump to Ewing
I was at summer camp during this game, tried to listen on a radio. So close - John Starks my favorite player all time...
wow!,starks was on 🔥,he's my favorite knick of all-time,if ewing would've shot better and played better defense,could've,should've,would've,i had my heart broken so many times in the 90's by this team😭
18 years later shit still hurts.. he carried them the whole 4th quarter ON FIRE.. can you imagine if dis shot goes in and the Knicks finally win a fukin title !! it would've been one of most epic clutch 4th quarters of all time.. Starks would've been the mayor.. lol so sick..
John starks MVP of that finals would of happened. Love Starks. My favorite player
Facts man
loved that team and always will remember the good ole days . go knicks go !!!
If Stark's last 3 falls in, he's the finals MVP, and would've been immortalized! The real Kurt Warner before Kurt Warner
Man was on fire. Hakeem doesnt block that, thats game
Dont understand why some people blame it on Starks.. The lay up at 2:28 that Ewing missed was making the difference at the end..
***** What do you mean the Rockets didn't have the edge on the bench? The bench is what won them game 3 at the garden and kept them in game 6. The Knicks were the more physical team no doubt. Rockets just were clutch in certain situations...and here we are 21 years later and they STILL don't get credit at being better when it mattered, and I mean in general not trying to single you out.
All in all, Starks showed up to play in these finals & I could never take that away from. Yes, he had a terrible Game 7 & we lost but they were still champs in my heart no matter what! Fast forwarding now 2013, we are in the second half of the season, let's make these adjustments & play inspired Knick basketball like this team did! Go NY Go NY Go!!!
I'm still cry to this day. Still love starks no matter what
Saw this series when it happened and loved every minute. Being from Houston, I was glad the Rockets won but I had a lot of respect for the Knicks and would not have wanted the Rockets to play any other team. I just loved the match ups with these teams: Hakeem vs Patrick and Starks vs Maxwell. Interesting similarities and differences that cancelled them out: Oakley being the heart of the Knicks' team and Thorpe an anchor for the Rockets team. Both guys were known for perfect attendance in the regular season and the playoffs only Oakley played more games than Thorpe that year. Oakley was the heart of the Knicks whereas Vernon Maxwell was the heart of the Rockets . I had predicted the team match up at the beginning of the season. Both teams were defensive power houses. The Knicks were the better defensive team whereas the Rockets were a bit more athletic. Rudy T. emphasized defense with the Rockets which put them up among the top five. Our starting front court was comparable in size although with Robert Horry losing weight in the off season that year it wasn't as much of a mirror image but with Thorpe up there and being as big as he was we were almost as big as the Knicks. Both teams were very emotional and expressed themselves out on the open court. Nice series. No shame for the Knicks, they were a formidable foe.
Knicks fan, and great analysis
Hakeem was so good during this stretch of his career. As great as Ewing was, Hakeem shut down his offensive game. Ewing had his moments defensively (he crashed the boards well and had a ton of blocks in this series--he almost played like the Georgetown version of Ewing) but really struggled offensively outside of Game 5.
Knicks fan here, and you are absolutely correct. Ewing’s defense and rebounds were exceptional, he set the record for blocks in a series at that time. However, like you said he couldn’t give us much offense.
The Knicks normally don't get blown out all that much in the playoffs than they do during the regular season. The start of the 4 quarter and the Knicks are only down by 3 points, damn that Championship was there for the taking.
I agree. Starks dominated the fourth quarter in Games 4, 5 and 6. Without that, I think the series wouldn't have even made it back to Houston. And with the way he was shooting that night, there was no way he was missing that final shot if Hakeen hadn't gotten his finger on it.
I put Game 7 all on Riley...he saw Starks was struggling, he had Rolando and Hubert Davis on the bench, players who had seen some playoff action. He could have given one of them a shot. Oh well, we'll never know.
Olajuwon was just so fluid and unstoppable
Great editing. Love John Starks. Too bad about game 7 for him... but this video serves reminder as to why he was given so much rope in that game.
Fate is a cruel mistress. Starks and Knicks deserved to win atleast one title. I can't really say this one coz am big fan of Hakeem. But damn, if ever there was one to win!! Starks is still a champ in my book, MAD HEART. The NBA needs more of that now days!
This is all ppl remember of starks, not the fact he helped bring the knicks back init with his late game heroics in games 4,5 and 6
Nobody gives a crap how well Starks played unless he won the whole thing I love Starks but really what do u think he will be remember for most, playing well during a whole series ot losing the big one
John Starks was unconscious and then Hakeem was clutch in the end and it showed why he was MVP.
Wow, brings back memories. First, I got out of the military in March 1994, and I remember those playoffs well. This was also the first time in awhile when you had no idea who was gonna win the title. Sure the Bulls had challenges in previous years, but you pretty much knew Jordan was gonna pull it out. This series was a coin flip, glad you posted it.
Im just curious...if hakeem didnt touch the starks 3-pointer...would the shot have gone in? ESPN Analytics needs to do some research on that.
those Knicks teams were the greatest in my lifetime to not win a title... really actually makes me sick to this day... a day late and a buck short like 8 years in a row
This game still hurts today. So close......
I will forever believe that if Hakeem doesnt block that shot....Starks makes it. He was on fire in this game. Just a great play by Olajuwon. Game 7 though was such a disaster. Starks w/his 2-18 game....yet even with that awful shooting the game wasnt decided until the final minute. What if Starks could have made even just two more shots, or what if Riley had pulled him and went with Hubert Davis. So close, yet so far.
As a Rockets fan this Was the game that worried me the most.
Once they won it I knew we had game 7.
Classic classic game. But I really wanted the Knicks to win soo badly. Still a game that is in the history books.
It's still so painful. Every time I see it, I wish it would change. I wish Starks got that shot off clean. I have no doubt it was going in. Starks couldn't miss in the 4th quarter. He shot it in rhythm, and had his shoulders square to the basket.
Stupid Olajuwon's finger.
The Knicks backcourt completely dominated this series. I LOVE Ewing, one of my all time favorite players, but he was no match for Hakeem, who in my opinion, is the greatest center to ever play the game. Plus I felt like Ewing forced a lot of shots
2:30, I have no idea why Ewing didn't dunk that, but it's a HORRIBLE call anyway. Pause at 2:47 and you can CLEARLY see that ball is off the rim, and not within the cylinder. Should've been 2 points for The Knicks!
MAN!!! Painful Isn't Even The Word!!! Smh...I Also Think, What If Starks Jumped Into Olajuwon And Drew The Foul Behind The 3-Point Line, Therefore Sending Him To The Line To Hit 3 Free Throws.
***** It's rough man. This game, and Game 5 of the 1993 ECF where Charles Smith can't make a fucking layup to win the game still give me nightmares.
I hadn't seen Game 5 in 20 years, until MSG started running "Knicks Greatest Rivalries", and showed that game.
It still pissed me off so much to the point where I couldn't sleep that night lol. You'd think after 20 years I could just let that go. still hurts. Probably because I know guys l ike Ewing, Starks ,and Oakley will never get a ring as players, and they all deserved one!
GialloHorror Oh Yea, How Could I Forget Charles Smith Missing That Wide Open Lay Up...Smh.
And Yea Man, Those Type Of Games Are Hard To Let Go...Lol. I Agree, Ewing, Starks, And Oakley ALL Deserved A Ring!! But Also Did Other Greats (Malone, Barkley, Dominique Wilkins, Stockton, Etc....).
***** You're right man. There are a lot of great players who never won championships because of Jordan, and The Bulls.
GialloHorror Right!
Could've been one of the greatest game winning shots of all time but Hakeem says NO.
Very painful to see, great series though. Starks an all time Knick.
Starks was a badass player, but he was so terrible in game 7. You can't blame him.
I have never been able to bring myself to watch this until now. It still hurts 29 years later. I thought they had it in the bag as I was watching back then.
Can someone explain to me why Ewing fouled Olajuwon with :39 remaining and down only 2? My God, I'm so shocked the announcers never criticized him for an obviously boneheaded move. I don't know why I never noticed it back in '94. Perhaps Starks tapping his head wasn't him blaming himself but a subliminal message to Ewing.
@roven 08 I can't call Ewing dumb over one numbskull act. It takes a high degree of intelligence to play top tier defense, which Ewing did consistently throughout his basketball career~be it HS/College/Pros. Just wish for Knicks fans' sake (FWIW, I'm a Lakers fan but rooted for NY in these Finals) he didn't decide to lose his head at that moment...lol.
@roven 08 Ewing was not better than Hakeem
Huh? It was a smart move. Had to stop the clock. Why was it bad?
@@pgangsta357 Because they were only down 2 with :39 remaining-they could've made a stop and still had :15 remaining to win the game and championship.🤷🏿♂️
@rafaleles Man i was 7 in 1994 and he was my hero, and i cried when he missed that shot.Till this day im still haunted by that moment being a Knick fan
Best Knicks team in last 20 plus years
Oh yeah, I have seen this video tonnes of times and I never thanked you for uploading it. So, thank you baldheadkid!
I was 10 years old and I realized this. The Rockets have all these guys that can shoot 3's and knock down jumpers all day. Maxwell, Horry, Kenny Smith, and as it turned out rookie Sam Cassell. How are we supposed to keep up with Starks, Oakley and Mason just kinda shoving people around and trying to use brute force? Plus Hakeem was better than Patrick.
I was always more of a Starks fan than a Ewing fan
@ColoredSpaces
I never watched the replay of this game until now. The football pass from oak to starks would've given them the lead if he didn't overthrow it. What I would give to see the play without Hakeem tipping starks's 3 at the end.
That shot was going straight in too, you can see it even after it was blocked the arch was perfect going foward damn !!! 😖😖😞 as a knicks fan this hurts me everytime I'm reminded of this game. We had that championship with a winning three pointer. Damn Hakeem man smh.
Man that was for the championship!!!
My man starks deserved that.
He would've had a statue in front of msg!!!!!
how does that make feel better all it did drive me into tears
basketball had more defense back then. love it.
Actually, had the Rockets faced the Bulls in the finals, Dream Olajuwon would have had a field day. He would have played even better than he did this series, and the Rockets probably could have taken out the Bulls. Dream played like an MVP against PATRICK EWING, you don't think he could have dismantled the entire Bulls' frontcourt? Let's face it, Worm couldn't touch Hakeem.
Worm wasn't on the team 94. That was Horace Grant last year
Ohhh,great upload !!!! Great Basketball....great players....Real men !!!!
Imagine Starks giving Hakeem the fake and then BOOM....but that's how life goes....great game by starks though !!!!
Thanks for the upload.
Man, I know people knock starks for game 7, but i think he was the knicks' mvp up until then.
I was 11 at the time of this game, and I'll never forget how heartbroken I was, as a die hard Knicks fan, when that final shot missed. I pretty much knew Houston had the series when they won this game, and couldn't even watch Game 7, with virtually knowing Game 6 was the one the Knicks had to win, but blew it. To this day this game still eats at me, and if only that shot went in, with how great things would have been, along with the 1994 baseball strike, both of which broke New York's heart.
freakyfornash i was screaming foul foul
Ewing missing a point blank layup in game 7 vs the Pacers for the tie is a bigger choke
I was 13 and I lost interest in the NBA after this stint.
I’m with ya. I was 12 at the time and felt the exact same way. Such a heartbreaking loss, I was such a huge John Starks fan (as streaky as he was).
@@DarrellC. Yeah, and sucks for both he, and Knicks fans that he saved his worst performance for the seventh, and final game of the series when they needed him to have his best game too. Of course he could have simply passed it to Ewing for an easy two in order to send the game to OT. But there's no doubt that final shot goes in if Hakeem didn't manage to block it by the skin of his fingers though.
I remember watching that game. John if you hadn't missed that shot!
I agree with the Comment under neath me.... I feel that he would've nailed it... this series was a exciting and tough series.... Stark's just didn't have it in game 7 but I don't blame him... Olajuwon was a monster under the basket and Ewing had his hands full with him all series... needless to say this series still breaks my Heart cuz I really wanted this KNICKS TEAM TO WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP... I REMEMBER SITTING IN MY BASEMENT JUST LAYIN ON THE FLOOR STUNNED AND SAD AS IF I JUST LOST THE SERIES.... OVER THE YEARS I HAVENT WATCHED ANY OF THESE HIGHLIGHTS CUZ IT STILL BURNS MY HEART.... HOW DID I MAKE IT BACK HERE IS BEYOND ME
Mason missed the screen for Starks, so Ewing had to step out to the perimeter late to set up a screen for Starks. That brought Olajuwon out to the 3-point line and gave him a chance to block Starks. If Mason set the screen properly, Starks could have had a wide open catch and shoot opportunity. Who knows what could of happened then.
I Also Think, What If Starks Jumped Into Olajuwon And Drew The Foul Behind The 3-Point Line, Therefore Sending Him To The Line To Hit 3 Free Throws.
They did not have that rule in place back then. Even on 3 point attempts, a fouled player was only awarded 2 free throws.
I don't think Starks had enough time to pump fake anyway. He did the right thing by shooting it. It just wasn't meant to be.
FootballRob2010 Ohhh Yeaa...That's Right. I Forget, They Didn't. But Yea Man...Sad To Say, I Guess It Just Wasn't Meant To Be...I Agree. But Still, Had he Got That Shot Off Clean....Who Knows?? And You Can Tell It Effected Him A Lot, Because In Game 7 He Was So Off...Smh. I Felt Bad For Starks...
*****
Hell yeah it affected him. He had the worst Game 7 in NBA Finals history: 2-18 shooting and 0-11 from downtown. As a heartbroken Knick fan, I will never get over that as long as I live.
FootballRob2010 Damn! I Didn't Know He Had The Worst Game 7 In NBA Finals History...Smh. I'm A Mavericks Fan, But John Starks Was One Of My Favorite Players During The 90's. Even Though He Had A Bad Game, I Still Think He Was One Of The Best Knicks To Ever Play. Personally I Think The Knicks Should Retire #3 For Starks And #34 For Oakley In The Garden. It's Only Right. They Deserve To Be Right Up There In The Rafters With Ewing.
This game is why I get pissed off when people say Starks choked in Game 7. What a load of shit. Starks had a bad Game 7, it happens. Where were the rest of his teammates?
If not for Starks there wouldn't have even been 7 games. Starks scored 11,11, and 16 in the 4th quarter of games 4, 5 and 6.
If Olajuwon doesn't get lucky and hit that ball with his fingertips, Starks would've been known as the guy that hit the championship winning shot.
Starks was THE MAN!
If the Knicks won that game, Starks would have been Finals MVP. No questions asked.
Olajuwon is the best center I've ever seen. Ewing was GREAT, but he was not match for Hakeem.
Olajuwon hit so many big shots. He was quick, athletic, and strong. He had the best, overall, game of any center in NBA history
Close yes!!! But my Rockets were destined that year period now way those Knicks winning a championship in our House. We were the legitimate champs!!!
Ewing was definitely no wimp in that series. He was definitely off offensively in most games (though he did hit some big shots, even a three in one or two of the games!), but he was a beast on the boards and under the basket. He even set a Finals record for blocked shots in a series. If anything, he played more like he did in his Georgetown days than as a Knick.
The other problem was ball movement. The Knicks were pretty terrible on offense and didn't get the ball to the big guy enough.
I still hurt when i see this ... ugh
damn.... :( starks was holding the knicks down in the end, fucking dream's arms were just too long for starks to make that pull-up. if starks would've made that shot that would've solidified starks to a legend, now he's jus a player we knew as a once upon a time knick. Sad :(
Starks had one of the all-time finals performances and it’s a shame that it’s going to get overshadowed by that game seven. I remember watching this and thinking for one second that Starks hit that three. Now you see that Ewing was wide open but I don’t blame Starks for taking that shot Hakeem got a finger tip on it
In my humble opinion, Riley should have designed the last shot for Ewing, no matter what. He decided to let Starks take that shot. It was a huge mistake that haunted Starks for game-7.
We actually should’ve swept New Jersey in 3 that year and we should’ve won game 3 of the 1994 ECSF against the Bulls, therefore, winning that series in 5 games. Then, maybe, either Starks would’ve hit that 3-pointer or he would’ve walked in and scored a tying 2-pointer.
When Marv Albert says a team is over the limit with fouls, is he meaning that the team is in the penalty? Other NBA play by play commentators, like Dick Stockton, his counterpart at CBS, would say, "next foul and they're in the penalty" I always thought they were one in the same but wanted clarification.
Yes it means the opposing team shoots freethrows the rest of the quarter even if it's not a shooting foul.
Man ... if Starks had hit the three .. my how things would have been different. Ewing and the guys would have had a ring, possibly a second. He would have been remember for winning the game and the series with his 4th quarters rather than gm 7 choake. Sigh .... although while I'm at it I'll just imagine no MJ and then I can see 4 NY titles in the 90's :)
At 2:32, what negated Patrick Ewing's basket?
Brian Mears offensive goal tending.
With this said I wish the CURRENT Knicks to WIN IT Next year ! There's no place in the world like The Garden when it comes to sheer insanity and intensity in basketball (and music).
Why the fuck did the tip in by pat at 2:50 not count? The ball was clearly off the cylinder
Joe Rinzo I Agree!!
Yeah man,
+Aaron Gottfried sadley you can't really talk and convince a ref to change their mind, sucks
+Joe Rinzo Why the fuck did a 7'2" man miss an uncontested layup to begin with?
1994 Finals - FTA per game:
Olajuwon 6.1 - Starks 5.6, Ewing 3.0
How on earth did Ewing average only three free throw attempts per game? I never saw the whole series, can anybody explain that to me?
On the final possession, Mason missed the initial screen of Maxwell at the top of the key, which forced Ewing out to the peremiter to try another screen. Hakeem followed Ewing, was was in perfect position to pick up Starks on the switch.
I got heart like John Starks, gettin mad sparks, pass me the mic and I'll be rockin the whole park.
why am i watching this? im a knick fan. this hurts :(
I know right!!! 🙃😩😫
Yo bald head kid i love your channel bruh. Keep it comin.
Jesus the knicks were genuinely in with a chance with around 50 seconds to go it seemed almost inevitable but then it all went wrong.
Gosh one shot at the end would have changed history. Starks hits that 3 at the buzzer he is a legend mvp & knicks win the title. Ewing has his ring. Life has a moment like that just wow. Then in game 7 starks has the worst game of his life. I wish we could switch starks game 6 & 7 performances bc game 6 the knicks are still alive if they lose. God the Knicks should have put the rockets away in ny. They went back to ny tied at 1 & should have swept all 3 at the garden. This knicks team just did not have a killer instinct. They always had this attitude like hey we are up 2 games instead of putting a team away they would seem to rest on their laurels. Every series the Knicks went 7 games. Ewing did not step up in this game. Starks was on fire this game Mason got great rebounds where was ewing. I feel bad bc Patrick deserved his ring. Starks was my favorite player & when he put up that 3 I'm sure Rudy thought it was going in he looked so frustrated after starks kept burying tough 3's . My dad & I were like omg this is it we are gonna win at the buzzer by our favorite player starks. I cried my eyes out bc I had a bad feeling about game 7. Starks was so streaky hed have a great game then bad game the whole finals. Bad great bad great. If olajuwon didnt get a piece of that shot it was going in , starks was hitting every 3 from far out. It fell short bc of olajuwon's finger touching it.
starks - the unsung jordan nemesis. not afraid of mj
@lucasscott3 Knicks played well during the game, but the Houston Rockets was just a bit better. The last shot, had it gone in, would have won a title for the Knicks, but game seven gave Houston their first title also, and that was extraordinary.
Hurts to watch this.............. I love Starks
4:46 has to be one of the biggest shots of his career.
well, thats true. but only the result will be remembered.....sad but true
Maybe so, but he shouldn't have made it so close. Ewing was always a little awkward in his finishing movements, unlike his counterpart Dream on the Rockets. Hakeem was a great finisher, and was a GREAT athlete with beautiful finishing moves. Just look at Pat's missed layup against the Pacers on the final play of Game 7 of the Eastern Semis the very next year at MSG as another example of his awkwardness up close around the basket.
anyone notice Ewing never rolled off that pick...was that last play designed for Starks?
As a Knicks fan, i was so pissed at John Starks after this game, that I literally gave up on the NBA.
Dang Ewing was wide open coming down the lane on that last play
There's always next year Starks. If Knicks had homecourt, they would have won this Finals. Knicks will be back stronger.
i so agree!... 13-14 our yr tho.. long time coming..
@shadydawg555
Haha very well said, my friend. As a Knick fan from New York, I have to give props where its due. Hakeem the Dream played a great game and the Rockets were a great and formidable competitor... If anyone was to beat the Knicks, I'm glad its the Rockets. (And, as luck would have it, the Rockets happen to be my favorite team currently in the NBA. Yeah I've rooted for them and the Knicks this decade, though I'd rather not speak of the Knicks this decade).
Gotta feel bad for the guy, that is so much pressure for anyone to be under, it's inhuman expect anyone to hit such a difficult shot under such enormous pressure
Nobody thinking about this year game 6 when watching (back) this ? Switch Starks with Tony Parker and you will get it.
Same situation same feeling for both guys and for the massive supporter of Hakeem The Dream I was back then (after my fave player aka THE GOAT MJ left the Bulls one year earlier after the first three-peat).
I hated those Knicks with a Passion. This game was quite something to behold live, not on any Jordan play off match level but still, crazy intense and brutal.
It would have gone in. There's no way that shot wasn't going to miss. That shot would go in and NY become champions.
If John starks don’t have the year he had the Knicks not even there in the chip he had a great game 6 he Hakeem don’t block it was going in but other then that starks always my favorite knick
Wtf is Ewing doing? F pulling Hakeem with 40 sec left while over the limit. Omg, typical Ewing coming up small in big time moments. That's why he ended guys career with 0 rings
Ewing shouldnt have came to set screen, cuz it brought Olajuwan toward Starks... Starks nails that 3 if hes not there to get his finger tips on it ...