Knicks eliminate Pistons, 1992 Playoffs (Last game of The Bad Boys)

If you're an 80s/90s NBA fan, this series had everything you wanted - defense, physicality, perseverance and heart. Not to mention, Hall of Famers everywhere.

You could argue of all series' from that era, this was the most intense one. A certainty however was the game being a changing of the guard - a "bad boys' last hurrah and birth of the 90s Knicks.

[SkywalkerExpress]

When players like Oakley, McDaniel, Mason, Ewing, Rodman, Salley, Wooldridge, Laimber clashes under the basket, every rebound looks like gladiator fight.

[Byzantine]

For those of you too young to remember or who were not born yet this was back when New York had a NBA team.

[DaPrognosis]

You can FEEL intensity of this game!!!! Knicks-Pistons, Bulls-Knicks, Bulls-Pistons, Knick’s-Pacers, Heat-Bulls, Heat-Knick’s, Bulls-Pacers!! All those matchups were intense battles, it might have produced some “ugly” b-ball but who the hell cares when these GROWN MEN were competitive, playing for pride and the love of the game!!! Oh how I miss the late 80s and 90s !

[ShaAllahShabazzMBA]

Man look at the defense. Nothing came easy in this game. I saw James Harden walk the ball into the lane last week and I blew a gasket. NBA RIP... It was real while it lasted.

[claytonbrown]

I couldn't remember why I stopped watching the NBA. Now I remember: they don't play like this anymore.

[joshjones]

This is back when your heart was really pounding in each final possession LoL

[staygold]

The good ol days ... When FREE throws were EARNED

[BozCobra]

That was such a great era...boy! One of definitely greatest, if not THE greatest!

[iamnaitsirk]

I dont care if this is a low scoring ball game but this is more fun to watch than todays game...really.
And i dont think these players of today will survive this type of game considering they whine to even a little contact.

[coreyrowe]

This series represented a passing of the torch. The Knicks and pistons were mirror images of each other and pretty evenly matched in 1992, but they were headed different ways. The Knicks were on the rise and the pistons were in the midst of a slow decline. The Knicks gave the bulls a great battle in the next round and jumpstarted a fresh new bulls vs knicks rivalry that went on for most of the 90's. I have a feeling the pistons probably would've gotten swept or maybe gotten knocked out in 5 had they managed to win this series. The bulls had figured them out by 1992 and had grabbed full control of what had previously been a very competitive rivalry.

[Ozziemints]

Classic NBA/NY Knicks. Starks, Oak, Mase, Xman. Damn. Thanks for the share. Great quality.

[ronash]

Rest in Peace to Coach Chuck in Peace to PF Anthony Bless both📿

[iandhr]

I can't remember the last time Madison Square Garden sounded like that.

[dereklarner]

Two things make me sad;
1) there is a generation of fans who don’t know the Knicks were once good
2) said generation would call this kind of physicality boring because they aren’t shooting 3s every other possession.

[jmarcguy]

I remember taping this game back in the day. Yes taping!!! Man I loved those Knicks teams. Liked the Pistons too really. Great basketball. Thank you for posting this. Hadn’t seen it in years. The intensity was off the charts!

[shinomar]

The defense was spot on 101% solid. Compare todays NBA RIP to that good old days

[rbrinks]

Love him or hate him, Isiah Thomas was such a baller

[isaiahrogers]

That’s when the Garden was lit 🔥 miss those days

[jetsteeltherealdeal]

Man I love this...I could feel the tension just by watching the video....The NBA of today are you watching how real men play the game of basketball...go home and eat your wine and cheese...nothing but twisted steel and metal here boys

[vudujl]

just LOVE the effort and intensity of McDaniel at 4:04; suspect he's a guy they wish they could've kept for longer than one season