From a longtime New York Knicks fan.

[NYKMentality85]

First and foremost I've always had a natural fear/respect/hatred and appreciation for Indiana Pacers basketball dating back throughout the entire 90's. 1992-1993 was our first playoff series against one another and from there a true NBA rivalry was born. I've always considered Chicago and Indiana as our two biggest rivals with Miami being a distant 3rd. I believe New York and Indiana went 3-3 against one another during 6 postseason series throughout the 90's. And for that, as a pure basketball fan; I'll be pulling for a New York vs. Indiana 2nd round matchup in order to enjoy a 7th series amongst our two respected franchises. Over on our Knicks forum we take part in lots of Indiana Pacers discussion since we're both playing musical chairs on a nightly basis for the two seed. Below is a post I made of Indiana's team and would like some feedback and/or insight on my views on Indiana as a basketball team. Corrections, agreements and/or overall thoughts would all be appreciated. I'm not a fan of posting on opposing teams forums but Miami, Chicago, Indiana and New York all being players at the poker table has me reminiscing of our Eastern Conference rivalries of the 90's. It's a long winded post such as this one (even longer) so I'll understand if it's overlooked and/or disregarded.

The Pacers once had an anemic offense, but that struggling offense is no longer. Since the All-Star break (22 games) they've averaged 100.5 points per game. Exactly how strong has 100.5 points per game been? Top 10. Lets just say that the Los Angeles Clippers are ranked 9th with 100.6 points per game while our Knicks rank 11th at 99.4 points per game. So as you can see they may not be OKC or Miami but there offense does have potential. Paul George, David West, George Hill and Roy Hibbert can all score the rock. And Tyler Hansbrough can also score down low due to being one of the scrappiest/hard working big men in all of basketball. Lance Stephenson can get wet from time to time as well.

But Indiana's offense isn't what makes this team (potentially) deadly. They have the potential to become down right nasty come playoff basketball and it's their ability to defend, keeping points off the board while rebounding strong off the boards. These guys are true Eastern Conference contender. They are not to be overlooked and home court advantage could become more pivotal than some may think come a potential second round matchup against these guys.

On the season they've only allowed 89.7 points per game. Good enough to rank 1st in all of basketball. They've held opponents to an average field goal percentage (against) of only .415%. Once again, good enough to rank 1st on the defensive end. They've held opponents to only .322 shooting beyond the arc (3PT) which is yet again, good enough to rank 1st in all of basketball. They're also monsters off the glass. Very strong down low would be considered an understatement. They rank 1st in total rebounds at 46.4 boards per game and Indiana also lead the entire league in rebound differential by a large margin at +406 on the season while Memphis is ranked second only at +278 (which is still pretty damn good). Our Knicks? We only have a -68 rebound differential in comparison.

It's never written in stone and doesn't decide which teams will win an NBA championship but the easiest way to differentiate the contenders from the pretenders? It's a simple logic, but it's point differential. That's something my grandfather (was once a huge basketball nut) taught me many of years ago, and it's stuck with me while I break down teams in my own mind. OKC (+9.1). Miami (+8.0). San Antonio (+7.6). LAC (+6.1) while Indiana ranks 5th at +5.2 per game. The bottom 5 teams are Sacramento (-4.7), Detroit (-5.0), Phoenix (-6.5), Orlando (-6.6) and Charlotte (-9.6). It holds merit to say the least.

What makes Indiana's record of 16-6 dating back to the all-star break so respectable is their point differential of +10.6. Lets just say that the Oklahoma City Thunder lead the entire league with a differential of +9.1. Indiana has not only gone 16-6 dating back to the all-star break but they've been stomping mud holes with a differential of +10.6 dating back to the all-star break.

The Pacers just like our Knicks, are truthfully peaking at the right time. This team is a contender who plays amazing defense, rebounds as strong as they come off the boards and also has an offense with overall potential. Knicks vs. Indiana come the second round is something that I'm looking forward to as a New York fan. Memories of the 1990's and home court advantage could become pivotal during a seven game series against these guys.

Congratulations on the victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on the road in Los Angeles too. That was an impressive win.

[pacers70]

Thanks for the post and the nice words NYKMentality85.

You seem to have a pretty good grasp on the Pacers.

Lately the Pacers have been having problems closing out games as evidenced by last night's game against the Clippers. Leading by 18 at the end of 3 quarters and only winning by 3. This has become too typical lately and is a concern of mine.

A Pacers/Knicks second round series should be entertaining, however, unlike the 1990's there is not a Reggie Miller, Spike Lee, Patrick Ewing or John Starks...yet. Hopefully we will meet and have a clean, hard nosed, competitive series.

Unfortunately I don't think any team in the East can get by Miami.

[Wizop]

a replay of the Hicks and Knicks rivalry would suit us just fine. those were fun days even LJ was not in the act of shooting on that four point play and Ewing was allowed an extra step in the lane lots of times. okay, Reggie did push off when he stole the inbounds pass and hit his second three.

the stat I look at in determining the elite teams is their road record. we just won 4 in a road to even our record at 19-19. that was a real worry a week ago.

[Nuntius]

Thank you for the objective analysis. There is a lot of truth in your post

[Boss_]

Im a knicks fan and an indy series would be the most interesting to me over a celtics/knicks and heat/knicks matchup honestly. Since your team is extremely physical, maybe we can get a long 7 game series with lots of physicality, close 4th quarters and technicals..with some mouthing off back and forth, hopefully they can develop some sort of a rivalry like back in the day.

Its hard to get a rivalry going nowadays..one little slap nets a guy a 40+ game suspension, a hard foul could lead to a suspension (if you're not a superstar)..I don't like the modern nba anymore honestly. Very hard to build a rivalry if you don't let players get physical or suspend dudes for half a season over a punch. Meh...

[boombaby1987]

theres a certain other Pacers forum you should search. almost nobody here.

[imborj]

Thanks for the post and the nice words NYKMentality85.

You seem to have a pretty good grasp on the Pacers.

Lately the Pacers have been having problems closing out games as evidenced by last night's game against the Clippers. Leading by 18 at the end of 3 quarters and only winning by 3. This has become too typical lately and is a concern of mine.

A Pacers/Knicks second round series should be entertaining, however, unlike the 1990's there is not a Reggie Miller, Spike Lee, Patrick Ewing or John Starks...yet. Hopefully we will meet and have a clean, hard nosed, competitive series.

Unfortunately I don't think any team in the East can get by Miami.

guess what.. spikes still here

[NYKMentality85]

I created this thread over a month ago, and I never post on opposing teams forums but I just believed at the time, the number two and number three seed would meet come playoff basketball of the second round. I really thought Atlanta could upset Indiana but at the end of the night; New York and Indiana truthfully contended for the two seed against one another from start to finish. This series should be special for both fan bases. We split 3-3 throughout the 90's during 6 postseason series along with playoff wars/battles that took a lot out of both fan bases. I'll never forget what Reggie Miller did to us, and I'll never forgot how Mark Jackson haunted our franchise while with Indy. In short, this series now becomes the tie-breaker. Who gets that 4th postseason-series victory? We're in for a dogfight.

With all that stated this will be my final post until after the series. Win or lose it's only to say congratulations for a hard fought series between both teams because we're truthfully on the verge of going through another 1990's like (epic) series. New York vs. Indiana. The reason why I created this thread and decided to post as an opposing fan, was because I've always respected this Pacers franchise. When New Yorkers think of Indiana? We only think of one thing; Indiana Basketball. Nothing in between. Some think of "Larry Bird" but not me. I think of Indiana basketball (which created Bird). Have heard many stories on how basketball parks are everywhere within the state of Indiana. Have heard stories about kids growing up/playing basketball in the backyard without any freaking concrete. That's what I think about when I think of Indiana. Basketball.

Miami, to me, was never a true rival of New York throughout the 90's. It was the Bulls and Pacers. True postseason rivalries therefore I believe we share a mutual respect for one another. I'm not sure my nerves are ready for another New York vs. Indiana slugfest...

[Wizop]

in addition to what we call Hoosier Hysteria, basketball, we also have Hoosier Hospitality. We wouldn't want you to troll here, but your objective posts are welcome at least by me. Stick around. Feel free to post. We can disagree without being disagreeable. If you came to the Fieldhouse in a 'Melo jersey, you could expect some teasing but we wouldn't pour beer on you or start a fight. gloating wouldn't be welcome but there is no reason we can't have rational discussions.

that said, is there some irony that Donnie Walsh built us, resurrected you, and then came back to Indiana? that Isiah messed up here and there? that Mike Woodson is from Indianapolis and played at IU and that Lance is the prototypical New York street baller?

[Nuntius]

that said, is there some irony that Donnie Walsh built us, resurrected you, and then came back to Indiana? that Isiah messed up here and there? that Mike Woodson is from Indianapolis and played at IU and that Lance is the prototypical New York street baller?

Agreed. It is ironic indeed.

By the way, I echo Wizop's statements. You are a respectful fan, NYKMentality. Your intention is never to troll another poster or team. You can continue to post here as much as you like. Nothing wrong with posting in another team's forum when you are respectful.

[Perdido/BR]

in addition to what we call Hoosier Hysteria, basketball, we also have Hoosier Hospitality. We wouldn't want you to troll here, but your objective posts are welcome at least by me. Stick around. Feel free to post. We can disagree without being disagreeable.

This is a somewhat different attitude than the celts forum, to say the least

But yeah, should be a great series, I don't think any team beating the other should be considered "an upset". I'll go homer and give the knicks the edge if only for HCA. However, Melo seems to be hurting, and could very well be contained.

Good luck to you all. Should be a fun series.

[NYKMentality85]

Just wanted to stop by before tip off since I've received a warm welcome from Indiana faithful. This game is big time. Big for both teams moving forward.

Indiana wins this game? And you all control the series without question while being up 3-1. Would back the Knicks into a corner in which we want nothing to do with; down 3-1.

Even if we were to lose this game, as a Knicks fan, I'll refuse to give up until the series is over and done with. Even down 3-1 I'll have the mentality of a two step process being A.) Win game 5 in New York in order to B.) Have a chance at a game 7 come game 6 in Indiana.

Now with a win from New York tonight? The series is squared up at 2-2. Knicks take back home court advantage during a 3 game series. I would then like our chances and/or feel a lot more confident than as of right now.

In closing, this game is big time for both teams. It'll be 3-1 or squared up at 2-2. As a Knicks fan I was expecting a war against Indiana for quite some time, so being down 2-1 doesn't have me in panic mode due to the simple fact I never expected an easy series.

[Nuntius]

Even if we were to lose this game, as a Knicks fan, I'll refuse to give up until the series is over and done with.

And that's the right way to look at it. A fan should never give up on a series until the final whistle. It never ends until a team wins 4 games.

[NYKMentality85]

Even if we were to lose this game, as a Knicks fan, I'll refuse to give up until the series is over and done with.

And that's the right way to look at it. A fan should never give up on a series until the final whistle. It never ends until a team wins 4 games.

True but I'd be lying if I stated I'm dreading the thought of 3-1. Reality states, Indiana doesn't lose three consecutive games all that often. So with that dreadful feeling of being down 3-1 also comes with high hopes of being 2-2 moving forward. This game tonight will become a game of emotion (fan base wise) without question.