Eastern Conference Finals Matchup Set: Knicks vs. Pacers

[K_ick_God]

Current betting odds
https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/2025/05/16/opening-odds-for-knicks-vs-pacers-eastern-conference-finals/

Knicks favored.

OKC has betting odds for the title.

OKC basically looks mid to me

[JayTWill]

Not sure how this one will play out with 2 contrasting styles. The Pacers playing with more depth, more pace, more ball movement and player movement versus the Knicks and their higher level of top talent, slower pace and less ball and player movement. I can't say that I really love this matchup for the Knicks honestly. It could turn into a battle of attrition and the Knicks didn't win that battle last year trying to keep up with the Pacers.

The Knicks will need everyone as healthy as possible and Thibs may need to make a little more use of the bench this series to keep guys fresh. The 7-man rotation started dropping like flies last year. Hopefully the Knicks can control the boards and the pace. I wouldn't mind seeing the 2 big lineup more often if they can control the boards and possibly free up OG to either guard Hali a little more or just be more disruptive off-ball while not having to guard Siakam.

I do worry about having 2 bigs on the court while trying to keep up with the Pacers and I did not love the team's overall defensive communication against the Celtics. Thibs may have to bring Payne and Shamet back into the rotation for rest and to keep up with the Pacers. Boston plays at a much slower pace with more isos. The Knicks will have to do a much better job communicating their coverages and getting back on defense. They can't waste time jogging back on defense or arguing with the refs or the Pacers could run them off the court. They have to bring defensive effort and energy for a full 48.

[3toheadmelo]

[sol537]

Knicks in 6. I hope we can do it in 5. They’re better than they were last season but so are we. We’ll put up one or two stinker games probably because that’s what we do sometimes but we know what’s at stake so we’ll bounce back hard and take care of business.

I think they’ll have more trouble defending us than we will defending them and that will be the difference (in addition to more free throws and rebounds for us). Indiana’s defense is a slight step down from BOS and DET so we’ll feast at times.

[spree8]

Yea I got Knicks in 5.

The roster they beat last year is nothing compared to what we’re rollin with now.

We had them on the ropes with our remaining guys in wheelchairs.

[Iron Mantis]

Let's destroy the Pacers. We owe them BIG time.

NEVER FORGET how they fronted on us when our whole team was injured.

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[Bob Ross]

Knicks in 6, every round

[Besart19]

Most of you predicted a Cavs - Boston and Lakers - Thunder/Warriors finals

It looks like non of them five would make it... against Induana the key is to not become complacent and protect the homecourt at all cost! With that we got this in 7 game at worst

And we match way better with either Nuggets and Wolves than that group of other 5

[robillionaire]

Not sure how this one will play out with 2 contrasting styles. The Pacers playing with more depth, more pace, more ball movement and player movement versus the Knicks and their higher level of top talent, slower pace and less ball and player movement. I can't say that I really love this matchup for the Knicks honestly. It could turn into a battle of attrition and the Knicks didn't win that battle last year trying to keep up with the Pacers.

The Knicks will need everyone as healthy as possible and Thibs may need to make a little more use of the bench this series to keep guys fresh. The 7-man rotation started dropping like flies last year. Hopefully the Knicks can control the boards and the pace. I wouldn't mind seeing the 2 big lineup more often if they can control the boards and possibly free up OG to either guard Hali a little more or just be more disruptive off-ball while not having to guard Siakam.

I do worry about having 2 bigs on the court while trying to keep up with the Pacers and I did not love the team's overall defensive communication against the Celtics. Thibs may have to bring Payne and Shamet back into the rotation for rest and to keep up with the Pacers. Boston plays at a much slower pace with more isos. The Knicks will have to do a much better job communicating their coverages and getting back on defense. They can't waste time jogging back on defense or arguing with the refs or the Pacers could run them off the court. They have to bring defensive effort and energy for a full 48.

I think we need to win the battle of the bigs Towns and Mitch need to outplay Turner and Bryant. Nembhard is another guy I worry about going off so hopefully someone checks him.

[HarthorneWingo]

….

[HarthorneWingo]

Knicks in 6. Why change anything?

[GettinitDone]

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The Pacers, Wolves/ Thunder/ Nuggets, their fanbases, and the whole world trying to stop the Knicks in this year's playoffs

[god shammgod]

obligatory

[JayTWill]

Not sure how this one will play out with 2 contrasting styles. The Pacers playing with more depth, more pace, more ball movement and player movement versus the Knicks and their higher level of top talent, slower pace and less ball and player movement. I can't say that I really love this matchup for the Knicks honestly. It could turn into a battle of attrition and the Knicks didn't win that battle last year trying to keep up with the Pacers.

The Knicks will need everyone as healthy as possible and Thibs may need to make a little more use of the bench this series to keep guys fresh. The 7-man rotation started dropping like flies last year. Hopefully the Knicks can control the boards and the pace. I wouldn't mind seeing the 2 big lineup more often if they can control the boards and possibly free up OG to either guard Hali a little more or just be more disruptive off-ball while not having to guard Siakam.

I do worry about having 2 bigs on the court while trying to keep up with the Pacers and I did not love the team's overall defensive communication against the Celtics. Thibs may have to bring Payne and Shamet back into the rotation for rest and to keep up with the Pacers. Boston plays at a much slower pace with more isos. The Knicks will have to do a much better job communicating their coverages and getting back on defense. They can't waste time jogging back on defense or arguing with the refs or the Pacers could run them off the court. They have to bring defensive effort and energy for a full 48.

I think we need to win the battle of the bigs Towns and Mitch need to outplay Turner and Bryant. Nembhard is another guy I worry about going off so hopefully someone checks him.

Yeah, i'm just wondering how our bigs will handle their ball movement. We just played the 2 teams that made the least amount of passes per game this postseason to now playing the team that makes the most passes per game. I feel like they have to expend a lot more energy guarding the Pacers.

[HarthorneWingo]

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The Pacers, Wolves/ Thunder/ Nuggets, their fanbases, and the whole world trying to stop the Knicks in this year's playoffs

[thebuzzardman]

Pacers in 6; Knick fans aren't allowed to have nice things.

[Spree2Houston]

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[K_ick_God]

We should all go into medically induced comas until Wednesday

[Worst_to_First]

It is such poetic that we are facing off against the Pacers in the ECF. This was the team we beat the last two times we made it to the NBA Finals and Indy is always the one that was a roadblock for us. 1995, 2000, 2013 and 2024 still leave a sour taste on my month. Let’s get this one this year guys! And this time all the way to a championship.

[KnicksIn5]

Look at the user name.