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

[Nuntius]

Sorry Knicks fans, I want to like your team, but a huge chunk of your fanbase makes it hard to root for y'all.

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This Knicks team is pretty awesome. They're not responsible for the nimrods in these videos.

And, yeah, some of these nimrods are in RealGM as well since we've seen them defend these actions but it's a small minority that isn't representative of the whole.

[The KnicksFix]

Do you really think people aren’t aware of the one talking point that people who know nothing else about the pacers, bring up?

What people actually don’t realize is that the pacers were gunna wreck the bucks & give the Cavs a battle either way, because they are just a really good team with an exhausting style to play against, a great coach, and no quit.

We deserve to be favorites, but this is likely to be our hardest series yet and one that could easily go either way.

Do you really think Garland isn’t that big of a loss to that Cavs team? He created and set up their offense all season. These injuries matter. Damian Lillard on that team still stretches that series to 6. A healthy Garland Mobley and Hunter definitely stretches that series to six, more likely seven

When did I say that? The Bucks were going to be struggling to avoid being swept whether Dame was 100% or not.

And I picked that Cavs series to go 6 or 7 games if both had been at 100%. Injuries matter, but they don't change how good the Pacers have been playing for a long time now. Same way Tatum's achilles, KP being KP, Brown's knee, and Jrue/Al being 50, doesn't negate how well we played against the Celtics.

That team had been really good for months before the playoffs even started, and they're a tricksy playoff matchup for a lot of teams that may look better on paper.

True. My bad cg, misread your previous post
That’s my bad
And I agree with your points
Either way
Let’s smack em in 4

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Knicks were 9th offensively, so on the season they were a tick better than the Bucks.

They’ll need to control rebounds and defend the Pacers on the perimeter to win.

We were 5th offensively with a 117.3 ORTG, the Bucks were 10th with a 115.1 with a healthy Lillard.


Controlling the boards and defending the perimeter are two things the Knicks are good at, the things we struggle with aren't necessarily the things the Pacers are good at.

I have to ask. Which things are those? Which offensive skill are the Pacers not good at?

Who is the elite scorer on your team? The guy that can get a bucket when everything is going wrong, and you just need someone that can clear out and get his if all the passing isn't working?


Elite scorers flanked by 3 point shooters is what we struggled with the most this season, because we refused to switch and would play in a drop. You don't have the elite scorer, and having seen this team switch and keep the Celtics in check, I just don't see what is so special about a team that plays at a fast pace & relies on committee scoring because they don't have a singular elite scorer. If the pace drops down to our level, how do you win?

[Optms]

Pacers beat an injured ridden Cavs team. The one remaining team of the 4 that don't belong.

Knicks in 6. Maybe 5.

[Wizop]

Who is the elite scorer on your team? The guy that can get a bucket when everything is going wrong, and you just need someone that can clear out and get his if all the passing isn't working?

we don't play much iso-ball and the player we have that is best at creating a shot for himself is probably Mathurin. I wouldn't call him an elite scorer though. so if the answer you're looking for is we don't have one, you'd be right, but we don't see that as a problem.

[sp6r=underrated]

Who wins the Nemhard / Neismeth vs Hart / Mikal matchup and the bench impact will probably win this series. Assuming Haliburton / Siakam / Turner & Brunson / OG / KAT do their thing for the most part. Swap out Mikal or OG for each other.

My take is it will comedown to what you highlighted the bench. More specifically do the knicks suffer a fatigue penalty in these games. Tibs notoriously doesn't play his bench. Even by his standards he's gutted the bench this post-season.

The Knicks are running a 7 man rotation in which four players play 35, with Bridges, OG and Brunson logging 39. Indy is running a 9 man rotation in which Haliburton plays the most at just under 35.

Can the Knicks starts handle the extra minutes without giving out down the stretch? The answer to that question will decide the series.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Who is the elite scorer on your team? The guy that can get a bucket when everything is going wrong, and you just need someone that can clear out and get his if all the passing isn't working?

we don't play much iso-ball and the player we have that is best at creating a shot for himself is probably Mathurin. I wouldn't call him an elite scorer though. so if the answer you're looking for is we don't have one, you'd be right, but we don't see that as a problem.

It's not a problem, until it becomes one. You have played two teams with zero perimeter defenders between them, like absolutely none, even if you say Brunson is a poor defender, he's better than Garland, Ty Jerome, Lillard, Gary Trent, Kuzma, AJ Green, Kevin Porter etc. I mean seriously, the amount of just flat out awful perimeter defenders the Pacers have gone against is unreal. I think the best perimeter defender you have faced is either Max Struss or Dean Wade, that is absurd.


Creation becomes more important when the opponents have a couple perimeter defenders that can switch onto bigs, and I like my chances with KAT or Mitch getting Tyrese on a switch, since they've just dealt with Tatum, Brown and White.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

We were 5th offensively with a 117.3 ORTG, the Bucks were 10th with a 115.1 with a healthy Lillard.


Controlling the boards and defending the perimeter are two things the Knicks are good at, the things we struggle with aren't necessarily the things the Pacers are good at.

I have to ask. Which things are those? Which offensive skill are the Pacers not good at?

Who is the elite scorer on your team? The guy that can get a bucket when everything is going wrong, and you just need someone that can clear out and get his if all the passing isn't working?


Elite scorers flanked by 3 point shooters is what we struggled with the most this season, because we refused to switch and would play in a drop. You don't have the elite scorer, and having seen this team switch and keep the Celtics in check, I just don't see what is so special about a team that plays at a fast pace & relies on committee scoring because they don't have a singular elite scorer. If the pace drops down to our level, how do you win?

There’s nothing special about the Pacers. They suck and only win games because of injuries. Lottery team otherwise.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

I have to ask. Which things are those? Which offensive skill are the Pacers not good at?

Who is the elite scorer on your team? The guy that can get a bucket when everything is going wrong, and you just need someone that can clear out and get his if all the passing isn't working?


Elite scorers flanked by 3 point shooters is what we struggled with the most this season, because we refused to switch and would play in a drop. You don't have the elite scorer, and having seen this team switch and keep the Celtics in check, I just don't see what is so special about a team that plays at a fast pace & relies on committee scoring because they don't have a singular elite scorer. If the pace drops down to our level, how do you win?

There’s nothing special about the Pacers. They suck and only win games because of injuries. Lottery team otherwise.

There's nothing special about them, I don't think they suck, but the way you guys are talking about them you'd think they were the 2017 Warriors.

[LFGK]

Who wins the Nemhard / Neismeth vs Hart / Mikal matchup and the bench impact will probably win this series. Assuming Haliburton / Siakam / Turner & Brunson / OG / KAT do their thing for the most part. Swap out Mikal or OG for each other.

My take is it will comedown to what you highlighted the bench. More specifically do the knicks suffer a fatigue penalty in these games. Tibs notoriously doesn't play his bench. Even by his standards he's gutted the bench this post-season.

The Knicks are running a 7 man rotation in which four players play 35, with Bridges, OG and Brunson logging 39. Indy is running a 9 man rotation in which Haliburton plays the most at just under 35.

Can the Knicks starts handle the extra minutes without giving out down the stretch? The answer to that question will decide the series.

not taking these extra 4-5 min seriously at this point, they are used to it now and it isn't this huge deal, They will prob extend and play an 8th man.

[sp6r=underrated]

For what is worth, you really, really do not want to go down that road.

One of the reasons why I follow the NBA despite not being an American is that fan hooliganism isn't really a thing in American sports. Fans of opposing teams can watch away games without fearing for their safety. That's something I admire because this is not what happens in my country, Greece. Olympiacos fans cannot go into Panathinaikos' stadium to watch their teams play each other (and vice versa). When the big teams play, you will never see fans of different teams watching the game together. Opposing ultra groups attacking each other isn't uncommon and those attacks sometimes result in deaths.

You really do not want any of that crap happening in the US. Trust me on that. It makes following any team a lot, lot worse.

100% agree with this. I despise the hooligan fan culture. I hate when sports leagues encourage it. It makes things worse for everyone but angry 15-22 year old male morons.

[boomershadow]

Who is the elite scorer on your team? The guy that can get a bucket when everything is going wrong, and you just need someone that can clear out and get his if all the passing isn't working?


Elite scorers flanked by 3 point shooters is what we struggled with the most this season, because we refused to switch and would play in a drop. You don't have the elite scorer, and having seen this team switch and keep the Celtics in check, I just don't see what is so special about a team that plays at a fast pace & relies on committee scoring because they don't have a singular elite scorer. If the pace drops down to our level, how do you win?

There’s nothing special about the Pacers. They suck and only win games because of injuries. Lottery team otherwise.

There's nothing special about them, I don't think they suck, but the way you guys are talking about them you'd think they were the 2017 Warriors.

I'd compare them more to the 2015 Warriors. Nobody was thinking during the summer of '14 that the Warriors were even likely to win a chip.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

There’s nothing special about the Pacers. They suck and only win games because of injuries. Lottery team otherwise.

There's nothing special about them, I don't think they suck, but the way you guys are talking about them you'd think they were the 2017 Warriors.

I'd compare them more to the 2015 Warriors. Nobody was thinking during the summer of '14 that the Warriors were even likely to win a chip.

Steph averaged 28ppg in the playoffs, they had an elite scorer.

[LFGK]

I have to ask. Which things are those? Which offensive skill are the Pacers not good at?

Who is the elite scorer on your team? The guy that can get a bucket when everything is going wrong, and you just need someone that can clear out and get his if all the passing isn't working?


Elite scorers flanked by 3 point shooters is what we struggled with the most this season, because we refused to switch and would play in a drop. You don't have the elite scorer, and having seen this team switch and keep the Celtics in check, I just don't see what is so special about a team that plays at a fast pace & relies on committee scoring because they don't have a singular elite scorer. If the pace drops down to our level, how do you win?

There’s nothing special about the Pacers. They suck and only win games because of injuries. Lottery team otherwise.

finally

[Nuntius]

We were 5th offensively with a 117.3 ORTG, the Bucks were 10th with a 115.1 with a healthy Lillard.


Controlling the boards and defending the perimeter are two things the Knicks are good at, the things we struggle with aren't necessarily the things the Pacers are good at.

I have to ask. Which things are those? Which offensive skill are the Pacers not good at?

Who is the elite scorer on your team? The guy that can get a bucket when everything is going wrong, and you just need someone that can clear out and get his if all the passing isn't working?

Hali is the one that generally takes the big shots in close games. He's damn good in them as well, shooting 10/11 on shots to tie or take the lead in the last two minutes of a game this year.

Elite scorers flanked by 3 point shooters is what we struggled with the most this season, because we refused to switch and would play in a drop. You don't have the elite scorer, and having seen this team switch and keep the Celtics in check, I just don't see what is so special about a team that plays at a fast pace & relies on committee scoring because they don't have a singular elite scorer. If the pace drops down to our level, how do you win?

How often have you watched the Pacers? Have you watched our playoff series' this year? If you did, I'm not sure you'd be asking these questions.

Because you're hilariously underselling what the Pacers do on the offensive end here. That'd be like one of us summing up the Knicks' offense as just "Jalen Brunson isos".

Both teams are way more than that. You'll see when the games begin. I'm gonna echo Capn'O here, is it Wednesday already?

[Nuntius]

For what is worth, you really, really do not want to go down that road.

One of the reasons why I follow the NBA despite not being an American is that fan hooliganism isn't really a thing in American sports. Fans of opposing teams can watch away games without fearing for their safety. That's something I admire because this is not what happens in my country, Greece. Olympiacos fans cannot go into Panathinaikos' stadium to watch their teams play each other (and vice versa). When the big teams play, you will never see fans of different teams watching the game together. Opposing ultra groups attacking each other isn't uncommon and those attacks sometimes result in deaths.

You really do not want any of that crap happening in the US. Trust me on that. It makes following any team a lot, lot worse.

100% agree with this. I despise the hooligan fan culture. I hate when sports leagues encourage it. It makes things worse for everyone but angry 15-22 year old male morons.

Yep. It's absolutely awful. That's why it's so disheartening to see these two videos (one with the Pacers fans, the other with Windhorst) of New York fans throwing trash to people. Let's hope that this is the end of it.

[LFGK]

I have to ask. Which things are those? Which offensive skill are the Pacers not good at?

Who is the elite scorer on your team? The guy that can get a bucket when everything is going wrong, and you just need someone that can clear out and get his if all the passing isn't working?

Hali is the one that generally takes the big shots in close games. He's damn good in them as well, shooting 10/11 on shots to tie or take the lead in the last two minutes of a game this year.

Elite scorers flanked by 3 point shooters is what we struggled with the most this season, because we refused to switch and would play in a drop. You don't have the elite scorer, and having seen this team switch and keep the Celtics in check, I just don't see what is so special about a team that plays at a fast pace & relies on committee scoring because they don't have a singular elite scorer. If the pace drops down to our level, how do you win?

How often have you watched the Pacers? Have you watched our playoff series' this year? If you did, I'm not sure you'd be asking these questions.

Because you're hilariously underselling what the Pacers do on the offensive end here. That'd be like one of us summing up the Knicks' offense as just "Jalen Brunson isos".

Both teams are way more than that. You'll see when the games begin. I'm gonna echo Capn'O here, is it Wednesday already?

I watched most their playoff games this season, while he's been clutch, will be very different taking a shot like that down the stretch with OG or Bridges on him with Mitch rite behind them rather then that Scrub Ty Jerome, Knicks have wings and a block threat in the middle the pacers haven't seen yet.

[GiannisAnte34]

Pacers beat an injured ridden Cavs team. The one remaining team of the 4 that don't belong.

Knicks in 6. Maybe 5.

Coming from the guy who said the Lakers would make the Finals

[NoDopeOnSundays]

I have to ask. Which things are those? Which offensive skill are the Pacers not good at?

Who is the elite scorer on your team? The guy that can get a bucket when everything is going wrong, and you just need someone that can clear out and get his if all the passing isn't working?

Hali is the one that generally takes the big shots in close games. He's damn good in them as well, shooting 10/11 on shots to tie or take the lead in the last two minutes of a game this year.

Elite scorers flanked by 3 point shooters is what we struggled with the most this season, because we refused to switch and would play in a drop. You don't have the elite scorer, and having seen this team switch and keep the Celtics in check, I just don't see what is so special about a team that plays at a fast pace & relies on committee scoring because they don't have a singular elite scorer. If the pace drops down to our level, how do you win?

How often have you watched the Pacers? Have you watched our playoff series' this year? If you did, I'm not sure you'd be asking these questions.

Because you're hilariously underselling what the Pacers do on the offensive end here. That'd be like one of us summing up the Knicks' offense as just "Jalen Brunson isos".

Both teams are way more than that. You'll see when the games begin. I'm gonna echo Capn'O here, is it Wednesday already?

I'm fine with that, it's like 40% of our offense


I've watched you all playoffs, and in the games against us. To this point you have not played against a single solitary perimeter defender that's good, let alone great. I want to put things in perspective, Nembhard has played great so far, but these are the people he's been defended by -




I can do this with Nesmith and Halliburton as well, it's just a who's who list of garbage perimeter defenders. Guys who cannot keep a man in front of them, and also cannot switch onto larger players. Speaking of defense, Haliburton will not have a break in this series the way he has in the last two, he's either going to have to defend someone, or try his best to keep Hart off the glass.

You're right, we will see, and I think you're going to find out quickly that crude, ugly basketball can sap the life out of a more elegant & pretty game.

[xBulletproof]

Who is the elite scorer on your team? The guy that can get a bucket when everything is going wrong, and you just need someone that can clear out and get his if all the passing isn't working?


Elite scorers flanked by 3 point shooters is what we struggled with the most this season, because we refused to switch and would play in a drop. You don't have the elite scorer, and having seen this team switch and keep the Celtics in check, I just don't see what is so special about a team that plays at a fast pace & relies on committee scoring because they don't have a singular elite scorer. If the pace drops down to our level, how do you win?

There’s nothing special about the Pacers. They suck and only win games because of injuries. Lottery team otherwise.

There's nothing special about them, I don't think they suck, but the way you guys are talking about them you'd think they were the 2017 Warriors.

I think you could benefit from watching the video I posted earlier. Even the guys who cover the Knicks understand how big of a hurdle this Pacers offense should be. One of the guys who cover the Knicks even picked the Pacers.

You're talking about the physical aspect of the game, how guys line up and play 1v1, but the part of the game that the Pacers are going to put pressure on is the mental aspect. It's just different than how most any other teams play. You've got to know your coverages and where you need to be at certain times. It's not about just lining up and stopping the guy in front of you.