The story of the Knicks storming their way into the NBA Finals during the lockout-shortened season of 1998-99 is well-known, but history always seems to brush right past the team’s second round sweep of the fourth-seeded Atlanta Hawks, which was completed 20 years ago this week.
It’s not too surprising that history likes to overlook how the Knicks easily pushed past the Hawks in the Conference Semifinals, as the series’ against the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers that year were much more intriguing. Prior to playing the Hawks, the Knicks famously became the 2nd ever eighth seed to oust a one seed, besting the Heat thanks to Allan Houston’s glorious floater.