Posted by Nalod:

I think the subject had more to do with Walton being over rated. But thats what happens when you win!

Patrick was a great player. I think by many knick fans he is not treated objectively. He is almost iconic in stature!

He could be a SOB to his mates, management, and to the fans!

We was no loser, he had an incrediable work ethic and played thru pain. He was a consumate professional in many ways.

But while he was not a loser, and he played with with great heart and passion, he was not willing to trust others. This trait was about control, but the down side was there was a time to be the man, and there was a time to let others execute. When Michaell learn to pass off the ball (remember Both John Paxon, Steve Kerr and Bill wennington all making champoionship series last shot wins! Jordan was the man, but there was a trust. Patrick would not yield. Not to his mates, not the press, not to injury, not to checketts, fans, Don Nelson, age,and not ho himself. But reality is, you must become a part of the team concept.

Sometimes what makes you great is what prevents you from achieveing the ultimate goal, and perhaps the ultimate greatness!

i think ALOT of it had to do with his upbringing and how he was shielded by jarvis and john thompson for so long. i've heard many negative things about his relationships with coaches, teammates, and fans. but i've heard the other side also.

i've never seen such a great player on the court have such a love/hate relationship with the fans of ny. you either loved him or hated him - no inbetween.

he was a GREAT player and my favorite of all time b/c he DID play through pain and did play like a professional every night.

Posted by Marv:

sim, i agree with you on Ewing. Unfortunately the great dividing line on his rep was the lack of a championship. THat would have really shut down everyone's arguments against him.

but about Walton, i really gotta disagree with you. Whatever you hear about the smarts of the 70's Knicks, that's the way to think of Walton too. Watching that guy play, he had every single skill a center was supposed to have down cold. His outlet passes were the best, even better than Wes Unseld's, whose were phenomenal. His D was great, he blocked over 2.0 per game six different seasons, with a high of 3.6. He scored as part of a team concept, shot 52% for his career and had a season high of 18.9. Boarded at 10.5 for his career with a high of 14.4. Had 3.5 assists per game for his career with a high season of 5.0. 2 championships, one regular season MVP. WHen he moved to 6th man for Boston, won the 6th man of the year award. Accomplished all this despite the incredible number of injuries he suffered. I'm telling you, this guy was just golden on the court and was a total clinic on how to play the pivot position.

Posted by technomaster:

It's funny thinking about what could have been had Hakeem NOT BLOCKED Starks' shot in game 6 of the finals (We all know that 3 would have gone in)... or had the final minutes of game 7 panned out a little differently.

Ewing and the Knicks could have had the title... and Hakeem could have gotten one a year later when they added Clyde... everyone would have been happy.

I know I would have been!

I recall years ago hearing a program on the radio discussing how patrick would play hurt, but not tell anyone how bad it was hurting him! While he was admired, he was usually banged up come playoff time and not able to play full strenght!

THey thought he was constantly under contract pressure and felt if he slacked off it would be held against him in negotiations. 1996 was a contract year, and Don Nelsons was the coach.

As it turned out, Ewing started to decline, he got his big contract, and Nelson was gone.

Its a tough Business!

on a funny side, Patrick was notoriously tight with his cash and would not pick up a check! His respect for money is very admiriable considering how some players really throw it around!

Also, Patrick Coaching not for money, but this is what he wants to do!