Playoffs 2000:Pacers: Knicks are better with healthy Ewing

Pacers: Knicks are better with healthy Ewing
Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- Former teammates Mark Jackson and Patrick Ewing will put their friendship aside as each pursues his first NBA championship once again.

Ewing is healthy this year as New York and Indiana clash in the playoffs for the third time in a row. In the 1997-98 season, Ewing broke his right wrist and underwent surgery. He played for the first time in Game 2 of the first-round playoff matchup with Indiana, but his return provided more of a mental than physical boost to the Knicks, who lost in five games.

In Game 2 of last year's Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks lost Ewing for the rest of the playoffs with a partially torn Achilles' tendon but still managed to eliminate Indiana in six games.

At 37 and in his 15th season, Ewing averaged 15 points and nearly 10 rebounds during the regular season. In the playoffs, Ewing is averaging 14.8 points and 10.5 rebounds with 15 blocks in 10 games.

"They're probably less athletic because of his age, but they're a better basketball team with him," Jackson said Monday. In the last two games of the conference semifinals against Miami, Ewing scored 35 points and had 28 rebounds as the Knicks won the last two games by a total of three points.

"Look at his performance in Game 6 and 7 in the Miami series and it was crucial," Jackson said of the man who was his teammate for five years. "I believe he's the greatest New York Knick to ever put on a uniform. I'm glad to see him playing again and it's good to know that one of us will be playing in the finals. I'll represent him well."

The Pacers agree that the presence of a healthy 7-foot Ewing makes the Knicks more dangerous.

"They've got great balance on the perimeter," Jalen Rose said. "Patrick is obviously giving them scoring and rebounding. That's going to be a lot for us to contend with."

"They're definitely a better team with him," said Dale Davis, who can look forward to battling Ewing for rebounds whenever they're near the basket. "He provides leadership for them, rebounding, and he's the biggest key to their ball club.

"We definitely have to contain him. We don't want him to have to have big numbers."

Ewing averaged 18.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and had seven blocks in four games against Indiana this season.

"I have a lot of respect for his game, and what he's done for this league," Davis said. "He's a fighter. He's been banged up with injuries the past couple of years. But, he just gets out there and competes every night. The guy is a warrior."