Derek Harper’s memories came flooding back.
Frustration. distress. Broken heart.
Harper was in Los Angeles preparing for Game 5 of the Clippers-Mavericks season opener series as Game 5 of the Knicks-76ers series unfolded.
Tyrese Maxey scored 7 of his 46 points with 25.1 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, and when the Knicks were unable to get a shutout in overtime, Harper scored 8 points in 1995 when Reggie Miller scored 5. I couldn’t help but remember the 7th of the month. in 8.9 seconds.
“Everything was negative. It was really surreal to think about it again,” the former Knicks point guard recalled in a phone interview with the Post. “It wasn’t fun at all. I got really goosebumps, I’m not kidding. [Tuesday] I got goosebumps at night, and they were from a terrible place. ”
Miller’s heroics famously led the Pacers to a stunning Game 1 victory over the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Tuesday’s setback was similar in that the Knicks effectively lost a game they were winning due to a miraculous performance from an opposing guard.
The 1995 Knicks fought back in the next game, defeating the Pacers by 19 points. They ultimately lost the series in seven games, but that didn’t add to the demoralizing setback.
There wasn’t much talk about putting that behind us. Everyone in that locker room knew that was the only option.
The Knicks now have to do the same, with a chance to advance Thursday night in Philadelphia and avoid a do-or-die Game 7 at the Garden two days later.
“It may sound like a cliché, but one of the hardest things to do in sports is to let go of something, whether it’s good, bad, or indifference. You have to let it go,” Harper said. said. “Thinking about it will only make the situation worse and make it more difficult to play.” [Thursday] night.
“If you’re sitting on the floor getting ready for Game 6 and you’re thinking about that, you’re going to lose Game 6. … You can’t do that.” [let] in a negative experience. You have to get off the mat. If you get knocked out by Mike Tyson and all you think about is, “Oh, he might knock me out again,” you better not go back there because he’s going to knock you out again. ”
Greg Anthony was also on the 1995 Knicks team.
Afterwards, he felt devastated and shocked. This is because it was difficult to understand how the game could have changed so quickly.
Anthony was heavily involved in Miller’s barrage late in the game. Miller escaped a collision with Anthony, which led to a turnover, and Miller hit a 3-pointer with 13.2 seconds left to tie the game for the Pacers.
But by the time Anthony left the arena that night, he had advanced to the second game.
Nothing good comes from regretting the past. He believes the Knicks will have the same mentality.
“This is where the series should be anyway, because the reality is Philadelphia did the same thing in Game 2. It makes for great drama,” said Anthony, now an analyst for TNT. “The Knicks are a professional group and I don’t think they’re going to dwell on that, and neither is the coaching staff. The only people who are hurt are the fans.”
He added, “The postseason is all about adversity and how you deal with it.” [this is] The ultimate adversity. That’s exactly what Philadelphia experienced — Philadelphia gave the game away in Game 2. They came home and reacted the way you have to react. …It’s the same with the Knicks. I don’t sit and cry, or sulk, or dwell on it, and I don’t point fingers. ”
