The Detroit Pistons used their physical brand of play to make life tough for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Although they were able to overcome the rising Wind City squad in 1989 and 1990, the team was aging, and that tactic would soon come to an end.
However, that ploy inspired other teams. One such team that played ruggedly was the New York Knicks. The Pistons saw their 1992 playoffs end after losing to the rising Knicks in five games.
The Knicks earned the respect of the Pistons
Although it was a bitter pill to swallow, the Motor City team still lauded the Knicks for their brand of play. They accepted defeat gracefully and believed that if New York kept up the physicality, Jordan and company would be in trouble.
However, there was a caveat. Several Pistons players claimed that the league had control of things, hinting that some kind of intervention would happen.
"Michael just gets the treatment," Salley said after the Pistons were eliminated by the Knicks via the New York Times. "It's obvious when you see it."
Bill Laimbeer and Isiah Thomas had the same opinion. Both suggested that for the Knicks to have a chance, the league should allow them to play like they did in their series.
"If the officials and the league allow them to play, I don't know if they'll win, but I think they could compete," Thomas said.
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Physicality got Krause worried
Bulls Vice President of Operations Jerry Krause was a curious spectator of the Knicks vs. Pistons series. He witnessed the physical games, branding them muggings. He would call the attention of NBA Vice President of Operations Rod Thorn, urging the league executive to take control and avoid seeing things get out of hand.
Aside from that, Krause hoped that it would be a clean series. But seeing how the Knicks appeared to have taken a page out of the Pistons' playbook, a physical and rugged game concerned the Bulls' top brass.
New York made a good account of themselves, although then-coach Pat Riley was far from pleased. He wanted his boys to continue their physical game, especially on Michael Jordan.
When the series reached Game 6, New York was in a must-win situation. Former Knicks guard Mark Jackson recalled how Riley prepared them to win that game. The veteran coach showed them a clip from the 1991 playoffs, a sequence where Mike dunked on Ewing. Riles urged his players to be physical with Jordan , regardless of their position.
The Knicks did win Game 6, 100-86. Unfortunately, they could not repeat that performance in Game 7, with Jordan exploding for 42 points. In that game, the Bulls dominated, with Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant providing support.
After disposing of the Knicks, the Bulls would advance and defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the EC Finals. They would face and defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in the Finals, 4-2, to win their second-straight NBA title.
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