USA TODAY SPORTS
Patrick Ewing Ready For 'Love and Hate' of Knicks-Heat Rivalry
Granted a few more minutes of friendship before a matchup between their former employers' postseason battle perhaps re-opened some old wounds, Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning hopped on the phone.
It was the former New York Knicks center Ewing that initiated the conversation after their old locales earned landmark victories in the NBA postseason: Ewing's Knicks earned their first series victory in a decade over the Cleveland Cavaliers while Mourning's Miami Heat became the fifth eighth seed to prevail over a No. 1, the Milwaukee Bucks being the victim in five games. Ewing called after he watched Jimmy Butler score 56 points in the Heat's penultimate victory of the series on Monday.
"I’m looking at Miami come back and win and Jimmy have 56 points, and I called Alonzo right after that game,” Ewing told Barbara Barker of Newsday. “He was like, 'Man, it’s going to be like the old days.’ It’s going to be great.”
The respective victories for the modern Knicks and Heat set up four-to-seven dates in the Eastern Conference semifinals and the sixth postseason meeting between Manhattan and South Beach, which begins on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden (1 p.m. ET, ABC).
Ewing and Mourning are well-versed in such relations, having served as headliners in four of the first five meetings, which were defined by physicality and close games. Their prescience ... and lack thereof, as frequent fisticuffs would lead to suspensions ... often decided such get-togethers as their teams met in four consecutive Eastern Conference tournaments. Ewing's Knicks prevailed in three of the quartet before the LeBron James-led Heat earned a five-game victory in 2012.
The friendship between Ewing and Mourning, which began at their alma mater of Georgetown and has extended to shared enshrinement in Springfield's Naismith Hall of Fame, was one of the many subplots of the rivalry. Such hatred is said to have begun when Pat Riley left the Knicks for Miami after their NBA Finals run in 1994.
“There was always a great competition, always a war,” Ewing told Barker. “Going against coach Riley, me going against Alonzo. There was a lot of love and hate in that rivalry, two teams that mirror each other. Pat Riley did an outstanding job of building the Knicks with (president) Dave Checketts and then he leaves and goes to Miami. I think the respect we had for one another, (and) that led to the physicality and the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat."
The latest battle features two upstart teams eager to make a statement: Miami, last year's top seed in the East, became the first-ever Play-In Tournament victor to earn a series victory and is seeking its third conference finals appearance in the last four seasons. On the other side, the new-look Knicks, headlined by newcomer Jalen Brunson, are seeking their first conference finals appearance since 2000.
Though each side is missing some firepower ... the Heat are missing sharpshooter Tyler Herro while the Knicks are keeping an eye on hobbled All-Star Julius Randle ... Ewing believes a memorable stretch awaits. His departure from his head coaching duties at Georgetown allows him to root for Brunson, who previously repped the Hoyas' rivals from Villanova.
"That kid kicked my butt when I was at Georgetown and he has done a good job of improving his game every day," Ewing declared. "I love the type of player he is and his mom and dad did an outstanding job of raising him.”
Despite his hatred of the Heat, Ewing had kind words for long-tenured Miami boss Erik Spoelstra, whom he referred to as "a great guy." He made it clear, however, where his loyalties will always lie.
"I bleed blue and orange," Ewing declared. I’m looking forward to Game 1. I’m looking forward to see how things turn out, hopefully we win and move on.”
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Knicks? Click Here.
Follow AllKnicks.com on Twitter.
