ESPNNewYork.com takes a trip down memory lane to lay claim that while the New New York Knicks and Heat may excite, nothing will match the hate-fueled epic battles of the 90′s.

Maybe so. But between our old boy Riley still sitting at the Heat’s helm, LeBron leading The Three Little Pigs on the floor, and our own new-look squad we fans have plenty to get pumped about.

Read it here to whet your appetite for tonight’s premiere of The Rivalry, part deux.

Knicks tamed the Bulls,
But they still can’t ice the Heat,
Better luck next year?

What can you say?  The Knicks looked terrible at first, but worked their tales off to make it very interesting.  At the end, they fizzled out and lost, but proved a lot in the process.  This team can play with the big boys, and are not as far off as some may think.

For years, Reggie Miller thrived upon being the villain in New York City.  He caused Knicks fans more heartache than they care to remember, and usually did it when playing at Madison Square Garden.  Knicks fans, in return, would greet Miller with a chorus of boos every time he came to town.  The problem was that, the louder fans would boo, the better Miller played.

Earlier this month, Lebron James came to New York as this city’s newest basketball villain.  Though James has heard fans boo all over the country this season, New York might have been the most hostile place he’s played outside of his former home of Cleveland.  New Yorkers had cheered Lebron for years, and he had risen to the occasion against some bad Knicks teams.  This time, he heard the boos and rose to the occasion against a good Knicks team.

The Knicks will face Lebron James and the Heat tonight for a rematch.  This time, the game is in Miami, practically the only place the Heat have played this season where the fans have not shown their displeasure for Lebron and his gang.  However, with so many transplanted New Yorkers living in the Miami area, there might be some anti-Lebron sentiment in the building.  Lebron, though, says he relishes the boos from Knicks fans, even in Miami.

Via The Associated Press:

Dwyane Wade says he felt unwanted by the Knicks and thought that LeBron James could have ended up in New York.

The Miami Heat guard said New York is a big stage and could make a player a worldwide star, so he saw it as a possibility for James.

But Wade says he didn’t “think they really wanted me here anyway.”

UPDATE: It looks like limited pairs are available too…

If you are a diehard fan, have no plans this evening, and money is no object, single seats are still available on Ticketmaster.

We just got confirmed for:

Via NYsportsGUY (@NYsportSpace on Twitter & here on the interweb):

With the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat up next for the all of a sudden relevant Knicks, New York basketball takes center stage for the first time in years.  NBC New York explores just how long its been since the Knicks have played a game as important as those this week.  News flash…it’s been a really long time.

With regard to tonight’s matchup in particular, the Celtics and the Knicks are two of the NBA’s hottest teams, both streaking like Frank the Tank.  The Garden is bound to be rocking tonight, and CBS Sports’ Matt Moore think the Knicks will give the C’s fits tonight.

As for Friday’s game vs. the Heat, even Heat Beat Reporter Ira Winderman is praising the Knicks (kind of).  But still, there are skeptics.  Will Leitch at NY Magazine is amongst those who question whether the Knicks can continue their run against stronger competition.

While many questions remain about your beloved Knicks, one thing is certain:  this is the first time in years Knicks fans can watch their favorite team play the NBA’s elite and know that a Knicks victory will not just be a fluke.

Forming Knicks coach and Heat leg grabber, Jeff Van Gundy, joined “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN 1000, backing up a prediction he made to the Miami Herald that the Miami Heat will break the Bulls’ single season win record.

According to ESPN Chicago: Van Gundy said ”I just think if they’re healthy, the discrepancy between their talent level and and the next level is so great, that I just don’t see how they lose games. I think they’re that good.”

Van Gundy told the Herald that the Heat will break the record, and that they have a “legit shot” at the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 33-game win streak, which they set in the 1971-72 season.

Van Gundy based his prediction at least partially on what James was able to accomplish in Cleveland.

“Offensively they’re going to be an absolute nightmare to deal with. If LeBron James can win 66 games in the regular season with the guys he played with, who I think are better than people have given them credit for in Cleveland, then I think you add Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Mike Miller, it’s not a stretch to say they can win six more.”

Van Gundy believes it’s become popular to pick against the Heat.

“I think people are trying to pick on Miami right now instead of opening their eyes to just how great they are,” he said. “There are going to be no chemistry issues. Wade and James are unselfish players.

“That doesn’t mean if they win a championship it’s a great accomplishment either, because they’re so much better than everybody. But to discount just how good they are, I think people are making a mistake.”

C’mon Jeff. Where’s the old fight? I guess we’ll always have Mourning to hold on to.