2025 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: #3 New York Knicks vs #4 Indiana Pacers (IND leads 2-1)

[cgf]

The Knicks have a problem of not getting Kat the ball. Maybe because Thibs sucks on offense and Brunson is not a real point guard. Even when Kat was on fire, they almost froze him out a few times.

I mean yeah he could be like Shaq and demand the ball but he obviously doesn't have that type of personality. If you have an offensive talent like him you should be maximizing him.

KAT has a huge impact on the game even without the ball. We go to him often enough...when he's not in foul trouble *sigh*...but even when we don't having him out there spacing just breaks defenses for the rest of the crew.

the guy also gets a tough whistle, guess that happens when you have a reputation for dumb fouls. some of the offensive fouls he gets called for would never get called on embiid.

Yeah, I think it also doesn’t help that he looks so clumsy on his drives and the “oh my god!”’s can’t help either

[cgf]

KAT has a huge impact on the game even without the ball. We go to him often enough...when he's not in foul trouble *sigh*...but even when we don't having him out there spacing just breaks defenses for the rest of the crew.

the guy also gets a tough whistle, guess that happens when you have a reputation for dumb fouls. some of the offensive fouls he gets called for would never get called on embiid.

that one offensive foul he got called for on the and1 when haliburton had his on arm him, absurd.

Karl does hook opponents arms a lot, so even that one I get why refs sometimes assume he’s trying to play them. But it is a self-fulfilling prophecy now.

[cgf]

Pacers will still win this series. Knicks threw the series away with that game 1 choke, which is something you cannot do in matchup where the teams are damn near even.

Luckily Indy threw us a bone with their choke job last night

Knicks showed they can be champs

Pacers choked but it’s one game

'Choke' is a cool word to use, but too many liberties are being taken with it now. Last night was not a choke. Indy jumped out to a lead, but got decisively out-played in the second half. The Knicks wanted it more and played with more intensity & desperation.

A choke is when you blow a comfortable lead down the stretch of the 4th quarter. The game is all but won, you start playing tight, you screw up, and next thing you know, defeat is snatched from the jaws of victory. Game 1 was a choke. Game 2 Cavs/Indy was a choke. Last night, NY was simply the better team and deserved to win.

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Gotcha, so when the Knicks just get outplayed it’s a choke, and when we outplay a team it’s not.

[HotRocks34]

[Wingy]

How healthy will each team be moving forward?

Nesmith came back, but will that ankle be prone to rolling again? Game 1 eruption aside, he has made Brunson’s life about as hard as it can be. If he becomes even a lesser version of himself, that’s a huge hit for Indy.

Saw KAT limping late. Then Hart took that crash after the rebound late and looked like he tweaked a knee. Obviously two big losses if either guy struggles.

Might be at the war of attrition part of the playoffs.

[flow]

Luckily Indy threw us a bone with their choke job last night

Knicks showed they can be champs

Pacers choked but it’s one game

'Choke' is a cool word to use, but too many liberties are being taken with it now. Last night was not a choke. Indy jumped out to a lead, but got decisively out-played in the second half. The Knicks wanted it more and played with more intensity & desperation.

A choke is when you blow a comfortable lead down the stretch of the 4th quarter. The game is all but won, you start playing tight, you screw up, and next thing you know, defeat is snatched from the jaws of victory. Game 1 was a choke. Game 2 Cavs/Indy was a choke. Last night, NY was simply the better team and deserved to win.

.

Gotcha, so when the Knicks just get outplayed it’s a choke, and when we outplay a team it’s not.

The Knicks didn't get outplayed in Game 1. They decisively outplayed Indy for 45 minutes. And still managed to lose. THAT'S what a choke is.

This isn't difficult.

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[NyKnicks1714]

Why do people feel the need to get so scientific with the word choke? Who cares? Both teams blew leads they shouldn't have in Games 1 and 3, debating the term we use to describe that is kind of silly.

[HMFFL]

Pascal Siakam passes Joel Embiid in playoff scoring

Jorge Sierra: Pascal Siakam passed all these players in playoff scoring last night: Earl Monroe Joel Embiid Vlade Divac Jack Sikma Amare Stoudemire Not bad at all. He’s now No. 134 in NBA history. No. 1 among Cameroonian players. – via x.com

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Next morning and I’m convinced the Pacers lost the series last night.

Just absurdly bad basketball going away from everything that has worked for them all season long.

[___Rand___]

Wouldn't it be great if this series goes 7 games and none of the home teams win a single game? Let's make history happen!!! lol

[SweetTouch]

A 20 point lead at your place and a chance to go up 3-0 and basically win the series but you end up losing

Not considered a choke job

Stop being so sensitive yo mf team choked

Happens to the best of them

[flow]

Why do people feel the need to get so scientific with the word choke? Who cares? Both teams blew leads they shouldn't have in Games 1 and 3, debating the term we use to describe that is kind of silly.

There's nothing scientific about it. The word, like every other word we use, has a definition & proper use.


The term "choke" is frequently used in sports, particularly in high-pressure situations like the end of a game, a final round, or a clutch moment. It describes a player or team who, despite being in a good position to win, suddenly falters and fails to deliver.

Choking in sports describes an instance where an individual or team has a large lead that they squander in the late stages of the event.



Not sure why folks are so desperate to apply a term to an inapplicable situation. It's ok, Knicks fans. Eventhough Indy didn't choke, they did lose. You overcame an early 20 point deficit and won the game with a decisive 2nd half performance. Be happy & move on.

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[NiceLikeChrist]

been saying it over and over and over all playoffs. indiana's defense is BAD. you will score against them. we could've been playing our bench as much as they do in games 1 and 2 and came out much better, the games were close but late game execution and coaching cost us both. realistically this series would be 3-0 right now with a more competent coach. they aren't the better team

[Im Coming Home]

Wouldn't it be great if this series goes 7 games and none of the home teams win a single game? Let's make history happen!!! lol

Yeah!!!! Except for Game 7 the home team wins just to switch it up, little extra razzle dazzle! But other than that I agree!

[NyKnicks1714]

Why do people feel the need to get so scientific with the word choke? Who cares? Both teams blew leads they shouldn't have in Games 1 and 3, debating the term we use to describe that is kind of silly.

There's nothing scientific about it. The word, like every other word we use, has a definition & proper use.


The term "choke" is frequently used in sports, particularly in high-pressure situations like the end of a game, a final round, or a clutch moment. It describes a player or team who, despite being in a good position to win, suddenly falters and fails to deliver.

Choking in sports describes an instance where an individual or team has a large lead that they [b]squander in the late stages of the event.



Not sure why folks are so desperate to apply a term to an inapplicable situation. It's ok, Knicks fans. Even though Ind didn't choke, they did lose. You won the game with a decisive 2nd half performance. Be happy & move on.

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Lol you're the one dwelling on a word that's subjective in this context. I couldn't care less about whether a team "choked" or not.

[bisme37]

Hopefully Pacers fans are looking at this scintillating debate about the word choke and thinking their team has been clutch as hell and basically every other team has choked worse in recent weeks. Just brush it off imo.

[Statlanta]

I agree with chuck that thibs lucked out on the rotations due to foul trouble. No need to coach if the situation forces you to play guys Can Thibs solve the rotation issue before Indiana gets a 3-1 lead.

[boomershadow]

Next morning and I’m convinced the Pacers lost the series last night.

Just absurdly bad basketball going away from everything that has worked for them all season long.

Pacers have lost everything game 3 so far this playoffs. I'm not digging any graves yet. Especially not up 2-1

[LFGK]

Next morning and I’m convinced the Pacers lost the series last night.

Just absurdly bad basketball going away from everything that has worked for them all season long.

[LFGK]

Next morning and I’m convinced the Pacers lost the series last night.

Just absurdly bad basketball going away from everything that has worked for them all season long.

Pacers have lost everything game 3 so far this playoffs. I'm not digging any graves yet. Especially not up 2-1

Until it's 2-2 and the pacers psyche is more demoralized then the Knicks after game, up 20 with a chance to go up 3-0 but you let is slip away and it turns to 2-2? Yikes...hell of a game coming up tomorrow