the knicks were a dead in the water franchise from 88-90. we just came off a 3 game THRASHING by the bulls in the first round in 1990 (with brian quinett getting major burn...yikes).

then we hire pat riley and we completely change our team.

personnel is COMPLETELY different but i see similarites. we are truly emphazing defense first while try to learn the offense. i remember a game that year where we LOST to the lakers 75-68 or something putrid like that. but riley established a style of play that would last with the team for a decade.

i don't know how many of you guys go that far back but watching them grind out a garbage game last night brought back the 91/92 season memories.

Good point. And after Riley came JVG who also focused on defense and brought us many good years. As soon as he left, so did the defensive intensity, and with it NYK respectability. Chaney and Lenny did nothing to promote the defense.