Sports writers debated whether it's a triumph for 1) Knicks guard Allan Houston, a previous underachiever who scored 32 points in the decisive game; 2) Coach Jeff Van Gundy, who had nearly been fired earlier in the season; or 3) New York, whose prestige was already bolstered by cleaner streets and lower crime.
Following the defeat, sports writers agreed that Allan Houston and Coach Jeff Van Gundy are equally to blame.