"Every night I dreamed about him; it was a regular horror movie" - Walt Frazier on how competing against Earl Monroe impacted him

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Before the legendary Knicks duo of Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe joined forces, they were adversaries. One memorable showdown occurred in the 1970 Eastern Conference semifinals, with Frazier’s Knicks up against Monroe’s Bullets.

The games were fiercely contested, not only between the teams but particularly between the opposing guards. The Knickerbockers ultimately secured the series 4-3. Nonetheless, for ‘Clyde,’ the relentless matchups with Monroe left an indelible mark.

“I’m tired of dreaming of that cat, man. Every night I dreamed about him. It was a regular horror movie,” Frazier remarked, per New York Daily News.

A clash of two point guard titans

During the preceding 1969-70 regular season, the Knicks boasted the league’s best record at 60-22, while Baltimore finished at 50-32. Their semifinal clash that year highlighted a stark contrast in the teams’ ages and styles.

Monroe and Wes Unseld were the Bullets’ young stars on one side. They faced an experienced side spearheaded by Frazier, Willis Reed, Dick Barnett, and Bill Bradley. However, the team difference was most evident in the matchup of the two point guards who were selected in the 1967 NBA Draft.

Monroe, the former second pick, was known for his offensive flair and spectacular style. Conversely, the former fifth pick, Frazier, was a tenacious defender and playmaker. Now, ‘Clyde’ and ‘Pearl,’ the ultimate opposites in the point guard realm, were set to battle it out.

From Frazier’s nightmare to a dream duo

During Game 1, Monroe scored 39 points, but crucial steals by Frazier in the final moments secured the Knicks’ 120-117 victory after double overtime. Game 2 also tilted toward NYC. However, the Bullets bounced back. With Earl scoring the most points in the next two games, he helped to even the series significantly. Continuing his scoring spree, the ‘Pearl’ averaged an incredible 28 points throughout the series.

Yet it wasn’t enough, as the Knickerbockers emerged victorious. They claimed their first championship title, defeating the Lakers in the epic seventh game of the 1970 NBA Finals, where ‘Clyde’ delivered a remarkable 36 points and 19 assists.

However, the following year’s Knicks-Bullets clash likely saw Frazier’s nightmare reappear. With Monroe in top form, the Bullets seized the Eastern Conference Finals, clinching Game 7 at MSG. The team from Baltimore later lost to the Bucks in the 1971 NBA Finals.

After contract disputes, Monroe successfully forced a trade from Baltimore to NYC in the early 1971-72 campaign. Observers speculated whether he could coexist with Frazier as combining two ball-dominant guards posed a challenge.

However, Monroe’s capabilities had already been diminished by injuries and age, leading him to adapt to more of an off-ball role and defer to Frazier, who back then commented, “Earl’s fire and I’m ice.”

Indeed, the two eventual Hall of Famers complemented each other flawlessly, earning the nickname ‘The Rolls Royce Backcourt.’ After winning the 1973 NBA Finals, they emerged as champions, transforming Frazier’s nightmare of competing against Monroe into a dream of playing alongside him.