2025 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: #3 New York Knicks vs #4 Indiana Pacers (IND leads 1-0)

[Capn'O]

The war is over soldier, the city is ours.

Some German and French Leaders claimed victory over Russia and never reached Moscow

The Knicks claimed victory already , I can see them fall on cornfields before ever reaching Indianapolis

We can claim the city already, not that we ever lost that but it's been over and you're just left hoping we lose now.

I respect the hating to an extent, but your war is over, go scout the draft, what pick did y'all get? I haven't really been up on the lottery in years and it feels great.

You know I respect what you do, NDOS, but Arky's hate has been something of a good luck talisman and we need to continue to cultivate it, not dispatch it.

[durden_tyler]

The Knicks aren’t cool. All of you in the betting crew should root for the pacers!

…we don’t want your bad luck

Liking my Knicks in 6 initial prediction. Leaning hard in locking in that now but maybe i have to listen first to the Pacers’ fans thoughts! i do think Indiana is a good team and like New York have just been resilient since the first round! Tough decision to make!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We only play 7 guys because their 11th man (Walker) could get real PT for us; they run & press fullcourt for 48 minutes. Carlisle is better than Thibs. Turner will drag Mitch away from the paint. KAT struggles defending teams who move the ball well and can force him to make reads on D. Haliburton is almost as clutch as Brunson, Siakam knows how to deal with OG, and Nembhard is just absurd once the playoffs start.

Now bet on them to beat us!

On defense, who will be the primary defender vs Brunson? Nesmith, i assume? How did he fare in defending against the Knicks star in previous matchups?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ArksNetsSince99]

I’m sorry, but I can’t take the Pacers seriously when they’ve the weakest road to the conference finals…maybe after Minny. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong this series. But I’ll be the arrogant one this time around. Don’t see how they beat the Knicks.

I’ll clarify for you and will be an easy answer

By scoring more points during 48 minutes ball game

Pacers in 5

[cgf]

Pacers in 5 or 6

Celtics lost 2 games that were easily winnable and would have won both if Pacers were in their place
Pacers passes well and moves well without the ball, and all their rotation players can score in double digits at any given light
Their offense is too much to overcome for Knicks' decent but vulnerable defense

Myles Turner alone could easily make Celtics a much better team this postseason

On other hand, Pacers can live with both Brunson and KAT taking all the load on offense but they are going to work much harder on defense
Pacers is a much better scoring team than both Pistons and Celtics in playoffs

Knicks won’t defend you like we did them. Against Boston we focused on stopping their dribble penetration and the wide open 3s they get when teams start to scramble. Leaving them with much more mediocre 3s that it gets harder to hit as their limited depth would get tired.

You don’t settle for iso pull-ups the way they do, and you have the depth for fatigue not to drain your shooting. So we can’t run the same strategy against you. Carlisle still gives the pacers the advantage, but Thibs has done a great job of crafting opponent specific plans so far.

Turner going off from 3 could really be massive to our defensive schemes. If he’s cold, then we should have a much easier time leaning on Robinson to eat up PnRs & protect the paint.

Knicks aren’t just Brunson and Towns offensively, those two will be hard for the pacers to stop, but you’ll also have to deal with:

-Robinson & Hart are absolute elite rebounders who have dominated playoff games with the 2nd chance buckets they create.
- Anunoby & Bridges can go for 30 any given night as both are excellent c&s guys who can score with the ball in their hands. Mikal having a killer midrange game and OG having gotten a lot better at snaking his way to the rim.
- McBride can be a very nifty spark plug off our bench, who shot like crap against Detroit but came alive against Boston & now enters this series with confidence & flow.
- plus, if you tire us into going deeper into our bench, Shamet & Payne can get hot too.

[bisme37]

I don't have to make any threads today and have no idea what to do with myself haha

Series preview from NBA.com:

FIRST LOOK: KNICKS-PACERS RENEW RIVALRY IN EAST FINALS



Reggie. Patrick. The Davis Boys. Oakley. Mason. Starks. Smits. Mark Jackson. Riley. Larry Brown. Larry Johnson. Carmelo. PG. Roy Hibbert. Haliburton. Brunson.

Eight Points In Nine Seconds. The Four-Point Play. A rivalry that’s spanned decades.

The names and moments spring to mind. We’re back to the beasts of the East. It’s the Knicks and Pacers once again, with a berth in the NBA Finals on the line.

It’s a rematch of last year’s East Semifinals, won by the Pacers in seven games, which is their 3rd straight head-to-head series win in this storied rivalry. They’ve matched up nine times in the Playoffs overall (IND 5-4) and this is their 4th clash in the East Finals (NYK 2-1).

1993: Knicks in 4 (1st Round)
1994: Knicks in 7 (East Finals)
1995: Pacers in 7 (East Semis)
1998: Pacers in 5 (East Semis)
1999: Knicks in 6 (East Finals)
2000: Pacers in 6 (East Finals)
2013: Pacers in 6 (East Semis)
2024: Pacers in 7 (East Semis)




The moments in the rivalry are legendary:

Miller Time: Reggie’s 25-point 4th quarter at Madison Square Garden in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals went down in history, including the legendary eight points in nine seconds

Ewing Strikes Back: The Captain dropped 24 points, 22 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks in Game 7 in 1994, taking the Knicks to the Finals, including a game-winning putback slam

A Miracle: Larry Johnson’s four-point play helped lift the Knicks to the Finals in 1999 - one of three huge threes he hit in the contest

Hibbert Bars The Way: Roy Hibbert’s huge block on Carmelo Anthony epitomized the Pacers’ defensive toughness in 2013

It’s always been close. The Knicks and Pacers have played 198 regular season games – the Knicks have won 102 to the Pacers’ 96.



They matched up again for seven games in last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, with Indiana taking the decisive game with an all-time shooting performance, knocking down 67.1% of their field goals.

Down Swinging: The Knicks were shorthanded last year – Anunoby, Brunson, Julius Randle, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Mitchell Robinson missed time during last year’s series

They’re healthy now, adding talented swingman Mikal Bridges and stretch big Karl-Anthony Towns to the mix

Obi, Oh My: Obi Toppin, selected by the Knicks with the No. 8 pick in 2020, was traded to the Pacers in 2023. He’s averaging 8.5 PPG for Indiana this postseason

The Knicks won this year’s season series, 2-1. Towns led New York, averaging 30.3 pts and 12 reb on 56.6 FG%, while Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 25.3 pts on 61/52.6 shooting splits, including a career-high 38 in Indiana’s win on Nov. 10.

Who will step up as a classic rivalry is renewed?

[cgf]

I’m sorry, but I can’t take the Pacers seriously when they’ve the weakest road to the conference finals…maybe after Minny. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong this series. But I’ll be the arrogant one this time around. Don’t see how they beat the Knicks.

They exhaust us & are able to just outwork us because we’re gassed; Carlisle out-coaches Thibs; we can’t dominate the glass & get sloppy enough for them to kill us in transition; Turner going off from 3 breaks our defensive schemes; getting KAT in PNRs instead of trying to isolate him in space lets them abuse his defense in a way Boston didn’t; or Hali / Nembhard just hit insane shots in the clutch while Jalen is too tired to keep up.

There’s a reason I picked them to take the Cavs to 7 and thought that series was a toss up before the Cavs started to break down. They are a very good basketball team with one of the best non-Brunson closers, one of the best coaches, fantastic depth & ball movement & defensive pressure for 48 minutes.

Basically everything that makes people hype OKC but tilted towards offense instead of defense with a better coach and a clutcher star who is better at getting his team-mates involved.

[bronxknicksfan1]

I’m sorry, but I can’t take the Pacers seriously when they’ve the weakest road to the conference finals…maybe after Minny. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong this series. But I’ll be the arrogant one this time around. Don’t see how they beat the Knicks.

I’ll clarify for you and will be an easy answer

By scoring more points during 48 minutes ball game

Pacers in 5

Now I know we’ll win in 5

[ArksNetsSince99]

I don't have to make any threads today and have no idea what to do with myself haha

Series preview from NBA.com:

FIRST LOOK: KNICKS-PACERS RENEW RIVALRY IN EAST FINALS



Reggie. Patrick. The Davis Boys. Oakley. Mason. Starks. Smits. Mark Jackson. Riley. Larry Brown. Larry Johnson. Carmelo. PG. Roy Hibbert. Haliburton. Brunson.

Eight Points In Nine Seconds. The Four-Point Play. A rivalry that’s spanned decades.

The names and moments spring to mind. We’re back to the beasts of the East. It’s the Knicks and Pacers once again, with a berth in the NBA Finals on the line.

It’s a rematch of last year’s East Semifinals, won by the Pacers in seven games, which is their 3rd straight head-to-head series win in this storied rivalry. They’ve matched up nine times in the Playoffs overall (IND 5-4) and this is their 4th clash in the East Finals (NYK 2-1).

1993: Knicks in 4 (1st Round)
1994: Knicks in 7 (East Finals)
1995: Pacers in 7 (East Semis)
1998: Pacers in 5 (East Semis)
1999: Knicks in 6 (East Finals)
2000: Pacers in 6 (East Finals)
2013: Pacers in 6 (East Semis)
2024: Pacers in 7 (East Semis)




The moments in the rivalry are legendary:

Miller Time: Reggie’s 25-point 4th quarter at Madison Square Garden in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals went down in history, including the legendary eight points in nine seconds

Ewing Strikes Back: The Captain dropped 24 points, 22 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks in Game 7 in 1994, taking the Knicks to the Finals, including a game-winning putback slam

A Miracle: Larry Johnson’s four-point play helped lift the Knicks to the Finals in 1999 - one of three huge threes he hit in the contest

Hibbert Bars The Way: Roy Hibbert’s huge block on Carmelo Anthony epitomized the Pacers’ defensive toughness in 2013

It’s always been close. The Knicks and Pacers have played 198 regular season games – the Knicks have won 102 to the Pacers’ 96.



They matched up again for seven games in last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, with Indiana taking the decisive game with an all-time shooting performance, knocking down 67.1% of their field goals.

Down Swinging: The Knicks were shorthanded last year – Anunoby, Brunson, Julius Randle, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Mitchell Robinson missed time during last year’s series

They’re healthy now, adding talented swingman Mikal Bridges and stretch big Karl-Anthony Towns to the mix

Obi, Oh My: Obi Toppin, selected by the Knicks with the No. 8 pick in 2020, was traded to the Pacers in 2023. He’s averaging 8.5 PPG for Indiana this postseason

The Knicks won this year’s season series, 2-1. Towns led New York, averaging 30.3 pts and 12 reb on 56.6 FG%, while Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 25.3 pts on 61/52.6 shooting splits, including a career-high 38 in Indiana’s win on Nov. 10.

Who will step up as a classic rivalry is renewed?

Damn so Pacers have them every time for last 26 YEARS

How is that a rivalry ? I call it Azz whooping

I might change my call to Pacers in 4 possibly

[ArksNetsSince99]

I’m sorry, but I can’t take the Pacers seriously when they’ve the weakest road to the conference finals…maybe after Minny. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong this series. But I’ll be the arrogant one this time around. Don’t see how they beat the Knicks.

They exhaust us & are able to just outwork us because we’re gassed; Carlisle out-coaches Thibs; we can’t dominate the glass & get sloppy enough for them to kill us in transition; Turner going off from 3 breaks our defensive schemes; getting KAT in PNRs instead of trying to isolate him in space lets them abuse his defense in a way Boston didn’t; or Hali / Nembhard just hit insane shots in the clutch while Jalen is too tired to keep up.

There’s a reason I picked them to take the Cavs to 7 and thought that series was a toss up before the Cavs started to break down. They are a very good basketball team with one of the best non-Brunson closers, one of the best coaches, fantastic depth & ball movement & defensive pressure for 48 minutes.

Basically everything that makes people hype OKC but tilted towards offense instead of defense with a better coach and a clutcher star who is better at getting his team-mates involved.

Do you want to switch sides before this madness begins ?

There is still time and cure for you bro

And I can order for you Obi Toppin jersey , what size do you wear ?

[bronxknicksfan1]

I’m sorry, but I can’t take the Pacers seriously when they’ve the weakest road to the conference finals…maybe after Minny. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong this series. But I’ll be the arrogant one this time around. Don’t see how they beat the Knicks.

They exhaust us & are able to just outwork us because we’re gassed; Carlisle out-coaches Thibs; we can’t dominate the glass & get sloppy enough for them to kill us in transition; Turner going off from 3 breaks our defensive schemes; getting KAT in PNRs instead of trying to isolate him in space lets them abuse his defense in a way Boston didn’t; or Hali / Nembhard just hit insane shots in the clutch while Jalen is too tired to keep up.

There’s a reason I picked them to take the Cavs to 7 and thought that series was a toss up before the Cavs started to break down. They are a very good basketball team with one of the best non-Brunson closers, one of the best coaches, fantastic depth & ball movement & defensive pressure for 48 minutes.

Basically everything that makes people hype OKC but tilted towards offense instead of defense with a better coach and a clutcher star who is better at getting his team-mates involved.

And I still don’t see it

I’m aware of the Pacers running a 10 man rotation. Do I think that matters much? Not really. Their main guys will still be playing 36+ min against a Knicks team that isn’t missing key rotation players like the Bucks and Cavs were. At the moment, the talent advantage goes to the Knicks.

[sp6r=underrated]

Every Knicks, Pacers and Timberwolves fan should be rooting hard for Denver in Game 7. If OKC wins they are the prohibitive favorites but if they lose this is truly anyone's title. I'm biased but NY is the slight favorite in a non-OKC playoffs due to HCA.

I’m sorry, but I can’t take the Pacers seriously when they’ve the weakest road to the conference finals…maybe after Minny. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong this series. But I’ll be the arrogant one this time around. Don’t see how they beat the Knicks.

I'm leaning Knicks in 6 but you're short-changing Indiana. In the RS, post All Star break they had a 5.5 MOV, low end for a title contender. The Bucks are a flawed one man team but that one man is an ATG. They completely clobbered Milwaukee. And while Cleveland was wrecked by injuries they still took them out in 5.

I think NY takes this but this is no cakewalk joke squad in the CF. They could beat NY.

[Jamaaliver]

[LFGK]

Honestly, on paper the Knicks may have the best roster left in the Playoffs. I think the title is theirs to lose. What a wild statement.

LOL

I would like to know what's being LOL'ed at, being a net fan I fully understand you dunno what a competent roster looks like Celtics in 5! Pacers in 4! Wolves in 4!

[NiceLikeChrist]

I don't know Towns as well as many, bc he was in the west so long and I just haven't been that dedicated in years to watch every team play like I used to.

That said the Pacers have been exceptionally good at running bad defensive or slow bigs off of the floor in the half court. They basically made Brooke Lopez and Jarrett Allen completely unplayable at times. If that trend continues I'm assuming the target will be Towns. But they do it differently than other stars would. Tyrese isn't going to take isolation ball to get shots.

Also, Tyrese is healthy this year. He was much slower last year at this time.

Brooke Lopez and Allen aren't in the same stratosphere as KAT, Pacers are in for a rude awakening starting Wednesday, I won't say I told em so

I'm talking defense. If you think Towns is in another stratosphere defensively than Jarrett Allen, you know something I don't.

the point is fallen and lopez offer nothing more than defense most of the time. they are very limited offensively. KAT averaged a 30 point double double with high efficiency against the pacers this season. regardless of his individual defense it's clear he can more than make up for it by punishing the pacers in return. something brook and allen can't do

[NiceLikeChrist]

the issue with the pacers is defense. their defense is straight up weak. cavs got whatever they wanted, they just choked up and missed everything. but that's expected because the cavs are not built for playoffs and the team is riddled with weak mental

boston would've ran over the pacers this year the same way they did last season.

[LFGK]

I’m sorry, but I can’t take the Pacers seriously when they’ve the weakest road to the conference finals…maybe after Minny. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong this series. But I’ll be the arrogant one this time around. Don’t see how they beat the Knicks.

I been saying this and people say arrogance, brother 5 series last 2 years, 1 team was fully healthy and it ended in a sweep, I know their fans want to be taken seriously as a contender but if injuries don't occur(part of the game) they are probably a 6 seed in the east. Last years series doesn't go past game 5 if Knicks weren't so short handed and this years series isn't going past 5, a huge reality check is coming.

[xBulletproof]

I’m sorry, but I can’t take the Pacers seriously when they’ve the weakest road to the conference finals…maybe after Minny. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong this series. But I’ll be the arrogant one this time around. Don’t see how they beat the Knicks.

I been saying this and people say arrogance, brother 5 series last 2 years, 1 team was fully healthy and it ended in a sweep, I know their fans want to be taken seriously as a contender but if injuries don't occur(part of the game) they are probably a 6 seed in the east. Last years series doesn't go past game 5 if Knicks weren't so short handed and this years series isn't going past 5, a huge reality check is coming.

The Pacers are 48-20 since December 8th. They've been the equivalent to a 60 win team since Haliburton recovered from his Team USA injury.

There is a reality check coming, you are correct.

[bronxknicksfan1]

I’m sorry, but I can’t take the Pacers seriously when they’ve the weakest road to the conference finals…maybe after Minny. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong this series. But I’ll be the arrogant one this time around. Don’t see how they beat the Knicks.

I been saying this and people say arrogance, brother 5 series last 2 years, 1 team was fully healthy and it ended in a sweep, I know their fans want to be taken seriously as a contender but if injuries don't occur(part of the game) they are probably a 6 seed in the east. Last years series doesn't go past game 5 if Knicks weren't so short handed and this years series isn't going past 5, a huge reality check is coming.

The Pacers are 48-20 since December 8th. They've been the equivalent to a 60 win team since Haliburton recovered from his Team USA injury.

There is a reality check coming, you are correct.

It’ll be even sweeter when we take out another 60 win team, then

[Shock Defeat]

It took the pacers 7 games to beat an injured Knicks squad last year. Now the Knicks are healthy while the pacers are the same team. Knicks in 6

[California Gold]

I have Pacers in 7 in this one, although could see it going either way. The difference to me I think in this series will be the Pacers bench. I like it overall a little more than the Knicks bench.

I have OKC coming out of the west though and beating either team but this should be a good series.