14. 1992 Eastern Conference Semis Game 7 Knicks vs. Bulls

Even though he could not deliver a ring, Patrick Ewing is unquestionably the greatest Knick of all time.  The main reason why Ewing doesn’t have a ring?

The Goddamned Bulls and Michael Jordan….

After the Knicks were swept in 91 (remember Jordan did this to Ewing?), everyone predicted the Bulls would steamroll the Knicks again.  After all, the Bulls had beaten the Knicks 14 straight times, and had beaten the Knicks at home 17 straight times.

But after the Knicks stole Game 1, the Bulls found out the Knicks were not going to be pushovers. Both teams went back and forth, trading wins in a series so physical, the league would eventually be forced to change the rules.

And then Game 7 arrived…

Jordan completely dominated the Knicks.   He decided, with some advice from his father, he would not let the Bulls lose, and took over the game scoring 42 points. This was the first game I’ve ever watch where one player decided the game. I had never seen someone take control of the game like that before. Didn’t any of the Knicks have fathers who advised him to stop Jordan?

  
 It was at that moment I realized the Knicks would never be able to beat the Bulls as long as Jordan was on the court, which is the reason why this game makes the list. There is nothing more frustrating as a fan than watching one guy completely ruin your season, year after year.  No matter how good the Knicks were, they simply were not good enough.  For much of the 90s, thanks to the Bulls, I had the same feelings Andy Roddick had after he lost to Roger Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon Final. Jordan is definitely on the Mount Rushmore of my sporting villains (along with Reggie Miller, Aaron Rogers, and that god awful Tyler Hansbrough).   

The Knicks were crushed 110-81 and just like that, the season was over. The good news: The Knicks used this loss as motivation to form, perhaps the greatest Knick team in NBA history.

The bad news: The Knicks lost to the Bulls again, including a game that will certainly be on this list...

Up Next: 13. Game 7 1952 NBA Finals vs Minneapolis Lakers

20. 2013 Game 6 ECSF vs. Indiana Pacers

Ahhhhhh, the game that gave me the idea to come up with this list in the first place. The Knicks were supposed to beat the Pacers to set up an anticipated Eastern Conference Finals matchup with the Miami Heat.

But the Pacers had other plans…

After having their best season in over a decade, surprising everyone by winning 54 games, the Knicks’ season abruptly ended in Indiana. The Knicks had nearly come back from a 3-1 series deficit to force a game 7 , but Carmelo decided to channel his inner John Starks, scoring only 4 points in the 4^th. To be fair, it wasn’t his entire fault the Knicks lost that game, in fact he doesn’t even get 5% of the blame if you ask me.  He did finish the game with 39 points and besides of a few Shumpert threes, no other Knick showed up on the offensive end. The Knicks shot terribly throughout the series, including J.R. Smith who shot an abysmal 4-15 in game 6 and 29% for the entire series[1] and Raymond Felton, who somehow ended up finishing the game without making a field goal.

Of course, there is the block, which is the most memorable part of this game and spurred an 11-2 run, but the most painful part of this game is watching New York High School legend, Lance Stephenson score a playoff career high 25 points, including nine points during the run. The Knicks passed on him twice in the 2010 NBA Draft, drafting Landry Fields and Andy Rautins.[2] Now three years later, instead of having him on the team, the Knicks were forced to watch Lance Stephenson torture Knicks in the 4^th quarter like Reggie Miller used to do.

            The Knicks haven’t been to the playoffs since then. But do not worry; the free agent signings of Robin Lopez, Derrick Williams, and Kyle O'quinn will propel the Knicks back into the playoffs, right?[3]

In Derek Fisher we trust!


Up Next : #19.  2011 Game 1 Eastern Conference First Round vs. Boston Celtics

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[1] He was never the same after throwing an elbow to Jason Terry

[2]  What a surprise, another Knicks draft blunder

[3] I somehow forgot to include Aaron Affalo, what a misstep.