Playoffs 2000:Confident teams agree Game 5 is pivotal

Confident teams agree Game 5 is pivotal
Associated Press

MIAMI -- Alonzo Mourning and Bill Russell were talking about their shared affection for defense, and during the discussion, Mourning glanced at Russell's hands.

"I took a peek at that championship ring," Mourning later admitted. "That's definitely one of the things I want."

The pursuit resumes tonight when the Miami Heat face the New York Knicks in Game 5 of their playoff series. The teams are tied 2-2.

"Game 5 is definitely pivotal," Mourning said. "But the way things are going, it looks like we'll go to a Game 7."

Mourning was chosen the NBA defensive player of the year for the second consecutive year Tuesday. The award was presented by Russell, widely regarded as the greatest defender ever.

"From my perspective, it's the most important award you can get," Russell said.

But Russell, who helped the Boston Celtics win 11 league titles, senses how badly Mourning wants more than individual honors. Mourning, 30, and the Heat have never reached the NBA Finals.

"There's not anyone on this planet who has watched you play that doubts what you want," Russell told Mourning.

Like many fans, Russell has enjoyed the closely contested Heat-Knicks series. Unlike most, he has no complaints about the low-scoring games, and he said NBA rule changes this season designed to discourage physical play have had an impact on the rivalry.

"A couple of years ago, it looked like sumo wrestlers," Russell said. "There's a little more skill involved this year because of the rule changes. It's a classic series because you have two teams that are totally alike, yet different."

At this point, it's obvious the teams are closely matched. In the past four years, including regular-season games, New York has won 19 times, Miami 18. In each of the past three years, the teams took their playoff series to the limit.

"Am I surprised we're tied 2-2? No," Heat forward P.J. Brown said. "I expected it to be this way. I think most everyone did."

Miami and New York have played nine times in the playoffs the past two years, and neither team has been able to win twice in a row.

"Nobody can pull away," Knicks forward Marcus Camby said. "It's a seesaw battle either way. We're a good defensive team; they're a good defensive team. It's just a matter of who can make the plays in the fourth quarter, basically."

If the series goes the limit, two of the final three games will be in Miami -- which means little.

Since 1997, the teams have split 12 playoff games in Miami. The Knicks won winner-take-all games in Miami each of the past two years.

"We're confident we can win there," New York guard Latrell Sprewell said.

The Heat's move in January to a new $215 million arena hasn't created a more hostile atmosphere for games against New York. There are still plenty of Knicks jerseys in the stands, many worn by South Florida residents.

"It's probably the most unique place in the league from that standpoint," Miami coach Pat Riley said Tuesday. "I go around to all the others arenas, and I never see a divided contingent."

Madison Square Garden is considered among the toughest places for visiting teams to play. But Riley and Heat owner Micky Arison, both former New Yorkers, are dismayed that thousands of fans at AmericanAirlines Arena cheer for the Knicks.

"Somehow we're going to have to win them over," Riley said. "If we could get unilateral across-the-board yelling and screaming for us, it would make a little bit of a difference."