The Heat – Knicks rivalry of the 90’s on TV? Not yet. The HBO series, “Showtime,” was canceled after two seasons and I think it was very good. Adrien Brody was a spot-on choice cast as Pat Riley. The series though, never even got a chance to cover Bird and Magic’s Converse commercial. It focused too much on Jerry Buss.
A streaming series about historic basketball matchups should have the events during the games placed front and center. Then have characters and stories surrounding the grittiness of the game. What fan wouldn’t want to hear the players talk trash to each other during the game? Then see the aftermath, following the players and coaches home. Here are my episodes:
Heat – Knicks episode 1: Pat faxes in his resignation
Pat Riley had one year remaining on his contract when he got restless in New York. In a book excerpt article here via the New York Times, “Blood in the Garden: The Flagrant History of the 1990’s Knicks.” He asked for a 30 percent ownership share in the Knicks with his extension. The Knicks said No. Pat indirectly met with Mickey Arison and shortly after, he faxed his resignation. The Knicks accused the Heat of tampering with Riley. The Heat said they asked permission to talk with Riley. The rivalry began.
Heat – Knicks episode 2: Heat comeback down 3-1
The Knicks were up 3-1 when PJ Brown and Charlie Ward got into a legendary fight and Ward was ejected. The Heat won the game and two more after to go to the Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. Riley was coach of the Heat with ownership in the team and the Heat mirrored the Knicks in every way. In an article here from Katie Baker on “The Ringer,” she discuss the 20 year anniversary of this fight.
Heat – Knicks episode 3: Van Gundy vs. Mourning
In 1998, the Heat and Knicks faced off again and a fight dictated the outcome of the series. Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson were fighting and Coach Jeff Van Gundy thought he could hold Mourning back. He looked like a rag doll as ‘Zo was throwing his fists with Johnson. ‘Zo was suspended for the next game and the Knicks closed out the Heat.
In this article here from Scott Allen and the Washington Post in 2023, he details the fight. There is enough content of this rivalry to make one hour episodes be action packed to keep the viewers attention. Also, this series would be popular to watch in New York, the #1 viewer market in the U.S.
Heat – Knicks episode 4: Allan Houston kills the Heat.
In an episode that kills me, the Heat in 1999 thought they had a team to compete for an NBA Championship. They got the #1 seed for the playoffs. Then they realized they had to play the Knicks in the first round. In another war, the Knicks won game 5 in the Miami Arena on an off-balance, weird layup by Allan Houston. Every Heat fan still feels this game.
Heat – Knicks episode 5: Last game in 2000
The Heat and Knicks would face each other in 2000 and went to 7 games. The Heat lost. This series was different than the previous years as because the first round was only five games, the NBA changed it back to 7. In this writeup here on postingandtoasting.com, the Knicks got the better of the Heat in Game 6 down by 17. Still can’t believe this.
Heat – Knicks casting
Adrien Brody would be a great reprisal of Riley. I loved his turn in the second season of “Showtime” from nice guy coach to “Gordon Gekko.” In the new series, we could see Riley’s transition from “Showtime” coach to Team President. I don’t know who could be ‘Zo, Hardaway, Thunder Dan, Ewing, “Gran-mama,” Starks. I would love to see the choices.
