2025 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: #3 New York Knicks vs #4 Indiana Pacers (IND leads 2-0)

[Castle Black]

"Reggie! They choked!!"

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[Hans1984]

A game with a lot of mistakes on both sides.

[xBulletproof]

I still cant comprehend why Dallas let go of Carslile

Holy ****. That Jaylen Brown Tweet you have as a sig. Makes me like him even more, as a Red Sox fan (since Indy has no team) I take trips to Boston to watch games and so I can never hate the Celtics like I probably should. But that Tweet makes me like Jaylen even more. Off topic rant, if anyone wants to skip

That hits because when I was young I got in fights pretty much anytime someone came at me sideways. Was always in trouble at school, but school wasn't my priority, it was surviving home. Hell, even beyond school I ran the streets and was shot up (hence: Bulletproof) I just wanted to keep my head down and get through the school day quietly, but we all know kids push buttons. So I never hesitated to push (or punch) back. I had a teacher, Mr McGill who basically told me I was going to be a loser. That I should drop out because I was depriving other kids of a better experience at school. I was dragging the "good" kids down with me, so I should just leave.

It's funny, I'm successful now. Everything I live in, drive or what not is paid for in full. Yet, if I saw Mr. McGill today, I still can't promise I wouldn't hit that old man. Beyond how he treated me, he had some very strange comments about a girl in our class, and her mother. Repeatedly. I also wonder how many other kids he treated like me. I wouldn't be shocked if he was some kind of pedo. He was ... weird. I hope he wasn't a teacher for long.

[bisme37]

I still cant comprehend why Dallas let go of Carslile

Holy ****. That Jaylen Brown Tweet you have as a sig. Makes me like him even more, as a Red Sox fan (since Indy has no team) I take trips to Boston to watch games and so I can never hate the Celtics like I probably should. But that Tweet makes me like Jaylen even more. Off topic rant, if anyone wants to skip

That hits because when I was young I got in fights pretty much anytime someone came at me sideways. Was always in trouble at school, but school wasn't my priority, it was surviving home. Hell, even beyond school I ran the streets and was shot up (hence: Bulletproof) I just wanted to keep my head down and get through the school day quietly, but we all know kids push buttons. So I never hesitated to push (or punch) back. I had a teacher, Mr McGill who basically told me I was going to be a loser. That I should drop out because I was depriving other kids of a better experience at school. I was dragging the "good" kids down with me, so I should just leave.

It's funny, I'm successful now. Everything I live in, drive or what not is paid for in full. Yet, if I saw Mr. McGill today, I still can't promise I wouldn't hit that old man. Beyond how he treated me, he had some very strange comments about a girl in our class, and her mother. Repeatedly. I also wonder how many other kids he treated like me. I wouldn't be shocked if he was some kind of pedo. He was ... weird. I hope he wasn't a teacher for long.

The weirdest thing about Brown's teacher saying he would end up in jail is that Jaylen was taking graduate courses as a freshman at Cal and was captain of the chess team etc. Really doesn't/didn't seem like a kid who would end up in jail lol. The jerk teacher seems to have motivated him though I guess.

[iggymcfrack]

It’s been a lot of fun just LOLing at the Knicks for choking, but to switch gears and give some serious analysis for a moment, if the Knicks are going to really be competitive in this series, Thibs needs to open up the rotation.

Indiana plays at a frenetic pace up and down the floor and they’re also incredibly tiring to defend in the halfcourt just based on how well they move the ball. Rick Carlisle was saying last night how there’s 13 days for this series. They’re going to be playing every other night the whole way until it’s over.

Last night, the Knicks just ran out of gas to continue defending the Pacers’ movement in the 4th quarter and they won’t be that rested again the rest of this series. Especially following the overtime game last night, if the Knicks try to just run 7 guys tomorrow they’re dead.

It’s not like he doesn’t have options. Cam Payne was a key piece for the Suns in the Finals run and he had better advanced numbers than Devin Booker that playoffs. Landry Shamet is somehow still only 27 years old and he shot 40% from three this year.

Going 9 deep would completely negate the Pacers’ stamina advantage and that’s the kind of adjustment that could totally change the series. If the Knicks do that, they’re still right in the series and have every chance to reach the Finals. If they keep trying to run out 7 guys, I think the Pacers wear them down in 5 or 6 games.

[rolling_91]

My observations on the game last night:

In an end of game scenario similar to OKC- DENVER GM 1, once again, an NBA team blew the game by intentionally fouling too early to prevent a 3 point attempt. I understand the context— Nesmith was in a zone— but the immediate foul by Anunoby on Nesmith left 12.4 seconds on the clock. Nesmith made both free throws and then the Pacers fouled Anunoby with 7.3 seconds. 7.3 seconds leaves plenty of time for the Pacers to get a good shot off so like Chet Holmgren in game 1 of the OKC-DENVER series, the pressure was placed squarely on Anunoby to make both free throws to retain the 3 pt lead. Had the Knicks simply defended the play when they were up 3 at worst they would have given up a game tying 3 and probably still left themselves enough time left to take the last shot. Almost the same scenario with a similar terrible ending for the home team.

I think Carlyle is probably the best offensive mind in the NBA and the brilliance of his read and react offense is that it takes the decision making out of the player’s hands and makes everything automatic. Simple examples are such as every time the defender is overplaying the passing lane you cut backdoor like Nembhard did on the game winning backdoor layup in OT when Hart was focused on helping on Halliburton’s penetration. Or every time the help defender on the screen-and-roll drops or is too low you automatically take the 3. That was Nesmith against KAT and Nesmith against Anunoby on those 4th quarter 3s when the Knicks were probably fatigued and not positioned up on the screen to defend the 3. Because everything is principle based, the player just does what he always does and thus the pressure of crunch time doesn’t affect them. And then when you have a depth of good players who can do everything from a triple threat position, you can play relentlessly like they do for the full 48 minutes. Combine that with the pressure defense that they are able to play with their depth and you understand the relentless force that they play with. In these way, the Pacers remind me of a loaded college team of the past— back when college basketball was good.

I don’t usually take notes during the game but in my opinion, the Pacers have been getting away with the old fashioned hand check on defense so I took some time stamps of instances where this occurred.

3:06 2nd quarter. Nesmith on Brunson. Classic hand check from the Jordan era, where defender puts a hand on a hip and pushes Brunson off his line. You are not allowed to push the offensive player. This tactic also gives the defender an advantage in recovering to defensive position when he’s beat.

2:01 2nd quarter. Nesmith on Brunson. Another classic hand check with the hand on the hip, pushing the offensive player off his line. This time a foul was called.

9:24 3rd quarter. Nesmith on Brunson. This is a push by Nesmith. But the point here is that he’s allowed liberal use of his hands to direct the offensive player the way he wants him to go.

1:51 in OT. Nesmith on Brunson. Again the hand check on the hip, the liberal use of the hands and the push to direct Brunson the way he wants him to go. Foul called late on this play. The point to be made here is that if you don’t call this type of contact early in the game and set a precedent, it shows up in crunch time. They should have called the foul early on this play and will probably miss it next time.

1:11 in OT. Foul called on Halliburton but this is actually a right hand push by Nesmith on Brunson’s hip.


These are all examples of how the hand check used to be employed in the Jordan era. It wasn’t allowed in the regular season but it is not being called with the proper vigilance in the playoffs. And it’s an imbalance because it gives the defender the advantage in redirecting the offensive player and in also allowing the defender to recover to the offensive player when he’s beat. If you are going to let that go then the Knicks should be allowed to employ the same methods. And then you will get the collective effect of the hand check throughout the playoffs because everyone will do it.

This is not a knock on Nesmith. He has been brilliant.

[Chuck Everett]

It’s been a lot of fun just LOLing at the Knicks for choking, but to switch gears and give some serious analysis for a moment, if the Knicks are going to really be competitive in this series, Thibs needs to open up the rotation.

Indiana plays at a frenetic pace up and down the floor and they’re also incredibly tiring to defend in the halfcourt just based on how well they move the ball. Rick Carlisle was saying last night how there’s 13 days for this series. They’re going to be playing every other night the whole way until it’s over.

Last night, the Knicks just ran out of gas to continue defending the Pacers’ movement in the 4th quarter and they won’t be that rested again the rest of this series. Especially following the overtime game last night, if the Knicks try to just run 7 guys tomorrow they’re dead.

It’s not like he doesn’t have options. Cam Payne was a key piece for the Suns in the Finals run and he had better advanced numbers than Devin Booker that playoffs. Landry Shamet is somehow still only 27 years old and he shot 40% from three this year.

Going 9 deep would completely negate the Pacers’ stamina advantage and that’s the kind of adjustment that could totally change the series. If the Knicks do that, they’re still right in the series and have every chance to reach the Finals. If they keep trying to run out 7 guys, I think the Pacers wear them down in 5 or 6 games.

Thibs is probably not going to change his rotation sadly. He trusts who he trusts for the most part.

However, that doesn't mean he can't do things like have his players slow their attack. They could easily play a possession game and force Indiana to defend them in the half-court for 18-24 seconds per possession. Especially when using Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart's ability to keep plays alive on the offensive boards.

It also would help if Brunson didn't feel the need to go 1-on-5 late in games, like he's playing by himself for seven plus minutes (including the 4th and OT). He's playing with good players. He needs to share the rock.

[FlatearthZorro]

By the way, I still think the Knicks can and might win- continue dominating the glass(+7 there), limit TOs(-8 )... It does seem kinda simple.

[Optms]

Knicks still winning the series.

Game 1 was the most flukiest thing I've ever seen. Great game though.

[durden_tyler]

The good news for New York is that it happened in Game 1. Still time and opportunity to recover. That said, they better win this series now or else they are going to he the laughingstock for another 20 years or so.


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[Raps in 4]

What do the analytics nerds who don't believe in "hot hands" have to say about Nesmith's hot hand last night? I don't see the argument as much anymore. I think most people have probably realized at this point that it's a real effect (but I've definitely gotten into the argument with posters on here before, and on the baseball sub-forums).

[Tomhomes33]

What I really want to see in game 2 is Knick up by 15 with 3min to go, then Pacers hit two straight 3pts to take it down to 9 with less than 2min left..

[Potential]

Thibs stubborn ass needs to play Shamet at least. Give these starters a breather for once

[ArksNetsSince99]

Knicks still winning the series.

Game 1 was the most flukiest thing I've ever seen. Great game though.

Knicks Lost = flukiest game ever

If Knicks did this to Pacers and won = Best Game in New York Knicks History

I kind of get your analogy , or actually I DONT

Pacers in 5

[ArksNetsSince99]

The good news for New York is that it happened in Game 1. Still time and opportunity to recover. That said, they better win this series now or else they are going to he the laughingstock for another 20 years or so.


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Bad news for New York is that happened in game 1 after 4 days rest

They run out of steam in game 1 , hard to see they not gonna run out of steam in games 3/4/5/ especially all remaining games will be played every other day including travel

If there is no major injuries Pacers in 5 whole day , everyday

[ArksNetsSince99]

Thibs stubborn ass needs to play Shamet at least. Give these starters a breather for once

He already rest Brunson and KAT more than usual in game 1 , some due to foul trouble

Shamet was done in PHX 2 years ago and in Brooklyn 3 years ago and now he gotta be the game changer ?

Maybe he can use P.J.Tucker while we at it

[ArksNetsSince99]

What I really want to see in game 2 is Knick up by 15 with 3min to go, then Pacers hit two straight 3pts to take it down to 9 with less than 2min left..

I see what you did there

[Ballings7]

I think it'd be awesome if the Pacers just go ahead and win the title this year

May well not happen, but hey, I'd love to see that for Indy.. and shows up the darling teams.

Obi Toppin seems to of turned himself into a solid energy hybrid forward on both ends with shooting range..

Pacers remind of the 2004 Pistons in that they don't have a big star player (Haliburton is really good all-star yes) -- but a bunch of solid to really good players who can play on both ends.. obviously defensively totally different, but similar team approach.

Fun stuff, this series should be wild and long.

[Hoop Hunter]

Just saw the game winner was a double dribble. Along with the goaltend pacers get a way with a lot in the last two minutes.

Brunson was getting a lot of touch fouls with the patented head snap. There was a play where he grabbed a Pacers arm and hit himself with it to get a foul call.

Knicks FT 40 - Pacers 28

One of the craziest things I've ever seen. Brunson hit himself in the face with Nesmith's arm. Now that should have been a "flopping" foul.

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[cgf]

What I really want to see in game 2 is Knick up by 15 with 3min to go, then Pacers hit two straight 3pts to take it down to 9 with less than 2min left..

And then the Knicks clamp down to win by 20