Out tickets were directly in front of centre court, a few rows behind television cameras on the stadium's middle tier. The atmosphere was electric.The stadium was heaving! Attendance peaked at 19,812, essentially a sellout crowd. The game was also attended by several notable celebrities, including comedian Chelsea Handler and Michael J Fox.
The Knicks are in the midst of their worst stretch of basketball in two seasons, having lost six of the last ten games they’ve played. As result, they desperately needed a win tonight in front of their home crowd. The odds didn’t look good after Clippers took an early lead in the first quarter. The Knick then trailed for three quarters before forging ahead halfway through the fourth quarter to win 123 to 111.
The home crowd went wild as the Knicks surged. The row of local in front of us were chanting and cheering all night. Garry loved the experience, especially the pageantry that make live American sports so entertaining. We got it all. Cheerleaders, hyped up commentary, play by play organ music, kiss cam and t-shirt tosses into the crowd. My favourite side show would have to be the Knicks flag bearers. They race out just before a break in play ends, like a timeout, and complete a breakneck circuit of the court.
The price of beer and popcorn was equally memorable, although not for the right reason. A pint-sized can of Heineken cost us an astronomical USD 18.00, or AUD 26.00. A mid-sized bucket of popcorn was USD 6.00, or AUD 10.00. Needless to say we only bought one beer each.
UPDATE: 9 June
“Knicks mania has hit New York, infecting the city with a pep beyond even its usual frenzied energy.” At least, that’s how the New York Times is describing events unfolding today. The men’s basketball team has made the NBA finals for the first time since 1999, in a competition they haven’t won since 1973, and they now lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.
After two games in Texas, against the San Antonio Spurs, the next two will be held at Madison Square Garden, cheered on by sell-out crowds and a slew of celebrities in invitation-only seating. Known as Celebrity Row, these coveted courtside seats will include President Donald Trump, a longtime fan.
The last time the Knicks reached the finals, in 1999, they were playing the Spurs. San Antonio ultimately defeated them in five games (4-1) to win its first NBA championship. This week, if the Knicks win both home games, they'll sweep the finals 4-0 and claim the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
According to the Times, as recently as Friday last week, the cheapest tickets for today’s first home game were in section 420, way up the back of the arena, and selling at $US8170 each. One courtside seat was listed as an “amazing” value at $US43,563. Another pair were selling for just over $US88,000 each. The eye-watering $US547 we paid for two upper-concourse seats in January feels like a bargain now (Section 224, Row 6, Seat 16-17. See the floor plan above.).
It’s exciting to think that Garry and I may have witnessed the Knicks playing at their best in a rare championship-winning season. Let’s see how this week unfolds.
UPDATE: 11 June
In a stunning reversal of fortunes, the Knicks lost their first home game. On Monday, New York time, the Knicks went down to the Spurs, 114 -111. The lead changed several times in the second half, generating plenty of on-court drama right up until the game’s final seconds.
Today, against all odds, the Knicks eliminated a
29-point deficit, the largest comeback in N.B.A. finals history, to take a
commanding 3-1 lead in the series. At halftime, the Spurs looked like they'd crushed the Knicks, leading 76-49. Only once before in NBA history had a team been down 25-plus points at home at halftime. However, one second before the final whistle blew, the Knicks snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, with a nail-biting win, 107-106.
UPDATE: 14 June
The Knicks have won Game 5 against the Spurs today, 94-90. This means they've secured an insurmountable 4-1 lead in the best-of-seven games NBA Championship final. This is their first championship win in more than 50 years. They last held the Larry O’Brien trophy in 1973. The image above was pulled from a BBC news story. I thought it captured the moment brilliantly.
UPDATE: 19 June
New York hosted a ticker-tape parade for the Knicks overnight. More than 1,000kg of confetti was unleashed on a joyful procession as it weaved its way through Lower Manhattan to City Hall. It’s the first such parade in the team’s 80-year history. Players celebrated on an open-top bus as an estimated one million people cheered them on. The parade traveled 17 blocks up Broadway, along a route known as the Canyon of Heroes. The images above come from the BBC News website.
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