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.
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Coach Jeff Van Gundy managed to triumph despite previously coming close to losing his job.
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Following the defeat, sports writers agreed that Allan Houston and Coach Jeff Van Gundy are equally to blame.