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

[wang000hk]

Like I said before the series started, both Brunson and KAT were required to give extra effort on the defensive end with how much Pacers run, move and pass the ball as a whole, they spent much more energy compared to last series so they kind of run out of gas in late game situations

[G R E Y]

Huh...

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[Castle Black]

Comeback kings.

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[Wizop]

Carlisle was flexible enough to play Sheppard and Bradley. Mathurin didn't play in the second half and Walker didn't play at all. Anyone think for a minute that Thibs would've gone that far down his bench? But maybe it's not all stubbornness as the more you pay your starters the more minimum contracts you have to sign.

If I were an owner looking to replace a coach, I'd look hard at Jenny Boucek and the other Carlisle assistants.

[Nuntius]

Huh...

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That is indeed accurate. Both Hali and SGA are fruits of a Paul George trade.

[G R E Y]

Huh...

Read on Twitter

That is indeed accurate. Both Hali and SGA are fruits of a Paul George trade.

That 76ers roadmap comment below

[___Rand___]

I'd disagree. Pacers have Hali, Pascal, 3 point shooting center in Turner, Nesmith and Nembhard starting. Great backup pg in McConnell and whole bunch of talented and still developing young guys in Mathurin, Sheppard, Walker, Jackson.

When it comes to top heavy- the Knicks do seem to have more talent, on paper Brunson/KAT/OG/Bridges is better than the Pacers, the Pacers are deeper though and play 8-9 men deep, which helps quite a bit. Toppin, McConnell, Mathurin, Sheppard. While the Knicks play their starters 40 mins a game and are pretty much 7 men deep....

IDK, I think the top end talent is a lot more equivalent than people realize. I'd say Haliburton's better than Brunson and Siakam is probably even a tiny bit better than Towns in a playoff series. Nembhard's probably about as close to Anunoby as Towns is to Siakam. Both are virtual toss ups. Ultimately though, the difference, even more than the depth, is that the Pacers run a real offense where they move the ball better than anyone in the league, and everybody fits incredibly well together while the Knicks just kinda feel like pieces all squeezed into a puzzle where they're just managing to make it fit even though it's not smooth.

A lot of what makes the Pacers fit though is that Haliburton is just such an incredible passer that you can build a complex offense where he helps all the role players play to their strengths and elevates their play. I think there's almost a little bit of a D'Antoni/Nash effect with Carlisle and Haliburton where Tyrese's incredible passing gives you the ability to run a really smart complex offense that makes everyone else better if you have a coach smart enough to rework the team to play to his strengths. So much of the last couple years, Haliburton's had nagging injuries that kept him from operating at 100% and obscured the kind of lift he was capable of, but his ceiling's incredibly high and he's played ridiculously well in stretches when he's actually fully healthy. With everyone at 100% health, I'd probably take him over everyone, but Jokic, SGA, Giannis, Luka, Tatum, and Wemby. Likewise, Nembhard and Nesmith both fit their roles perfectly and are absolutely crucial to the team concept so it's a big loss when either of them misses time as well.

Nesmith's gone from a defensive specialist to a top end 3 & D player. OG is more versatile defensively as he's able to guard 1-5, maybe a slightly better defender, but Nesmith's shooting better. Nembhard I love. He's a 6'4 6'5" combo guard who can defend, facilitate and score. He's Bridges counter. Bridges maybe a slightly better defender, but Nembhard is way more versatile, and thus more talented. Or you can say Nembhard is Hart's opposite with this NY lineup. Nembhard hands down over Hart.

KAT is PF/C who's physical, but Pascal has a better mid range, and way better defender. Hali and Brunson are a wash. If it is Turner vs KAT, KAT's more talented.

[LordCovington33]

Looks like my Pacers in 4 prediction might come true.

Go Pacers!

Your pacers? You’re a golden state warrior fan

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Carlisle was flexible enough to play Sheppard and Bradley. Mathurin didn't play in the second half and Walker didn't play at all. Anyone think for a minute that Thibs would've gone that far down his bench? But maybe it's not all stubbornness as the more you pay your starters the more minimum contracts you have to sign.

If I were an owner looking to replace a coach, I'd look hard at Jenny Boucek and the other Carlisle assistants.

Jenny Boucek has been amazing. Her last second plays have been great, and you see her more than any other assistant coaching mid game. She’s standing a lot of times and shouting stuff next to Carlisle.

[Froob]

Thibs is gone if they lose this series. I can see them hiring Mike Malone.

we lost to thibs and didn’t even save his job. worst case scenario for boston

[Phish Tank]

get the Knicks post-mortem ready. Should be 100% Fire Thibs.

[Froob]

I think this Pacers team will always be a brutal matchup for a Thibs coached team. they play 11 Thibs plays like 7.

They are gonna have to slow the game down to have a chance. KAT has been very good aside the occasional dumb play. feed him in the post

[stoo]

replacing thibs with malone is same like not replacing tibs with malone

[PaulKellerman]

These Pacers are demonic. I'm petrified at the thought of the Thunder facing them. Nesmith, Nembhard are nightmare fuel for any backcourt.

[___Rand___]

I think this Pacers team will always be a brutal matchup for a Thibs coached team. they play 11 Thibs plays like 7.

They are gonna have to slow the game down to have a chance. KAT has been very good aside the occasional dumb play. feed him in the post

That's one advantage NYK have - KAT. He's more physical than any Indy front court player. I think Carlisle has neutralized him in game2 with the double teaming. But it should create chances for shooters when he kicks out. Carlisle has outcoached Thibs. When Robinson's in there, he plays Turner thus giving Robinson the devi's choice of protecting the rim or guarding Turner at 3. When KAT's in there as center he plays Toppin who's more mobile on defense.

[___Rand___]

Thibs is gone if they lose this series. I can see them hiring Mike Malone.

we lost to thibs and didn’t even save his job. worst case scenario for boston

Who are they going to hire if they fire Thibs? Malone? Bud who failed at Phoenix? Too much is at risk here for Knicks. Bridges trade says they're in win-now mode.

First time Knicks are in ECFs in a generation. No way he's fired. But coaches with recent rings available might just tempt Knicks.

[DonaldSanders]

Looks like my Pacers in 4 prediction might come true.

Go Pacers!

Your pacers? You’re a golden state warrior fan

Re-read it, I'm saying my is in my prediction.

[Phish Tank]

Indiana really isn't doing anything special in this series. It's just taking advantage of Thibs' stupidity.

[Zeno]

Thibs is gone if they lose this series. I can see them hiring Mike Malone.

we lost to thibs and didn’t even save his job. worst case scenario for boston

Who are they going to hire if they fire Thibs? Malone? Bud who failed at Phoenix? Too much is at risk here for Knicks. Bridges trade says they're in win-now mode.

First time Knicks are in ECFs in a generation. No way he's fired. But coaches with recent rings available might just tempt Knicks.

Van Gundy's triumphant return?

[ArksNetsSince99]

Huh...

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That is indeed accurate. Both Hali and SGA are fruits of a Paul George trade.

That 76ers roadmap comment below

That was my first thought after reading Grey post , Philly in the finals next year , just trade the damn George