Dr. Jack's Breakdown: Knicks-Heat
By Dr. Jack Ramsay
Special to ESPN.com
No. 3 Knicks (50-32) vs. No. 2 Heat (52-30)
 Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay provides analysis for ESPN on SportsCenter and NBA Today. Here he breaks down the playoffs for ESPN.com. The color analyst for the Heat, Ramsay's impressive résumé includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as coach and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977.
Throughout the 2000 playoffs, Dr. Jack will break down each series from the backcourts to intanglibles. Look for his analysis from the first round all the way through to the NBA Finals.
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BACKCOURT
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EDGE
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I'd be surprised if Tim Hardaway would be able to play at his highest level, as he will need to against the Knicks. If the Heat must go with rookie Anthony Carter and Jamal Mashburn as their ballhandlers, it will be a tough series for them. The point-guard matchup between Carter and Knicks starter Charlie Ward is even. Carter has been surprising in his ability to penetrate. If it's Hardaway at his best, then I would give the Heat an edge at the point guard. But the three Knick guards -- Allan Houston, Ward and Chris Childs -- merit an advantage. Houston is a better scorer than Dan Majerle, who must do his best defensive job. Behind Majerle is Bruce Bowen, another strong defender. |
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FRONTCOURT
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EDGE
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Alonzo Mourning has the edge over fellow Georgetown alum Patrick Ewing. He is quicker than Ewing, can take him outside and drive on him, or can hit the jump shot if given space. But Ewing, always competitive, is capable of a big game. He is bigger than 'Zo and can shoot over him. He was the key player in Game 5 in their playoff series last year. The power-forward battle between P.J. Brown and Larry Johnson is about a wash. Johnson is a better scorer, but not by much, and Brown is a superior defender. The key matchup of the series is at small forward, with Mashburn and Latrell Sprewell. The Knicks swingman is more adept at driving to the basket and playing in the open court. He has had a great season, but so has Mashburn, who has been terrific in the playoffs. Their matchup may determine the series.
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Even
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BENCH
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EDGE
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This could be very significant because both teams like to use their bench. New York goes with three players -- Childs, Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas. They have each been consistently good at playing their roles. The Heat employs four or five players from the bench -- Bowen, Carter (if Hardaway can start), Clarence Weatherspoon, Otis Thorpe, and maybe even Rodney Buford if the Heat need some scoring. I would rate the benches about even in terms of total production. |
Even
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INTANGIBLES
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EDGE
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| The Knicks have an advantage in that they have beaten the Heat in the first round the last two years. The Heat may have the sheer determination to avoid being bounced by the Knicks again and the homecourt edge, but the Knicks have won in Miami the last two years, including Game 5 in both series. So homecourt advantage may not be a big factor, even though the Heat would rather play the Knicks at home than away.
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PREDICTION
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| Knicks in 7, although it wouldn't surprise me to see Miami win. Behind the Lakers, the Knicks and the Heat are tied as the second-best defensive teams in the league. They play the identical style of defense with the same principles, adjustments and overall effectiveness. The series will come down to which team executes better down the stretch, which one avoids turnovers and which one gets the big stops, because every game will be close. The last two years, the Knicks have been better in the end. |
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