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

[Fat]

So, are we more excited for nesmith on sga or dort on hali?

If he can’t stop Brunson he definitely cant stop SGA. This is a terrible matchup all around for the pacers. From top to bottom. Chet defensively alone on Siakam is game changer because their is no advantage switch for the the pacers from any position

We'll see. It's possible I underrate Chet, but he's skinny like Wemby...Wemby recovers with length, but Chet's wingspan is 6 inches shorter. Throw in a little post-game and fadeways, and I'm hopeful an elite championship-winning number-two has a mismatch. I like that.

Neismith pretty stopped him this game, and that's a fact. SGA also has bad games. The Pacers can live with stars going off as long as we stop other players. If Nesmith can "stop" him one game, SGA is bad for another game or two, and we can generally slow him down over the series and live with not doubling, that's a win for our defense and puts us in position if we can execute on the offensive end.

He made Brunson work hard as he has been doing all series but you can’t say you’re stopping him when he’s still doing what he’s doing.

I don’t see how anyone can watch this series and think the pacers stand a chance vs OKC.. SGA is brunson X2 with more size, okc will run with you, okc defense is better all around, okc has more shooters, deeper bench. Unless Hailburton is having the same game tonight vs Okc every game I just don’t see it

[azcatz11]

Never expected this out of Indy. Thought they were too up and down but no. This is insanely impressive. Idk
How much of a dog they should be against OKC if that’s the matchup

[Nuntius]

Hali is a pass first point guard. He's gonna make the players around him better naturally. Curry is elite because the system and players around him push him to another level. Why can't the same be said for Hali.

BTW just saw your location makes sense. Jordan Hill or Hali?

Curry is elite because curry is elite. All eyes on him soon as he passes half court in whatever system or team you put him in. You can’t even put Hailburton in the same breath.

Jordan hill

Yes Curry is a all time player but what makes him elite and possibly the best PG ever is the system that he plays in/built along with the depth and players the Warriors got him. You think Curry has the same career winning if he was drafted by the Knicks?

Curry is the one that enables the system that the Warriors play, though.

The same can be said for Haliburton, by the way. We're not running that kind of offense with a different PG.

[RaptorPride]

Trying to compare curry and Hailburton is comedy. Curry can perform on any system because what he does is elite its levels. Hailburton was team USA’s biggest cheerleader for a reason

Hali is a pass first point guard. He's gonna make the players around him better naturally. Curry is elite because the system and players around him push him to another level. Why can't the same be said for Hali.

BTW just saw your location makes sense. Jordan Hill or Hali?

Curry shooting is the system which opens everything for everyone.

So if we replace Klay, Draymond and Iggy. With Thibs as the coach we get the same results?

I don't think so.

Curry would still be elite but not near the hype and player he is today.

[Nuntius]

So, it's been two games now since New York inserted Mitchell Robinson for Josh Hart into the starting lineup. How do you all feel about that?

I feel that Robinson has been less effective as a starter but, on the other hand, Hart feels much more impactful off the bench.

Our winning lineups vs. you guys have featured length and defense. We slow the offense and then get the ball to _either_ KAT or Brunson.

Mitch in the SL helps some of that but lineups with Wright, Shamet, and Deuce let us slow your pace, get into half court, and let our scorers take charge.

Y'all have been a handful though. Stopping the run is easier said than done.

I agree. It's the smaller lineups with multiple smaller defenders and KAT that have given us the most trouble. KAT + Robinson hasn't worked great these last two games. It's still better than your previous SL, don't get me wrong, and Thibs does deserve credit for adapting and changing his rotations around, I just wanted to note that it was funny seeing Hart being the biggest beneficiary of this change and being so much off the bench.

[RaptorPride]

Curry is elite because curry is elite. All eyes on him soon as he passes half court in whatever system or team you put him in. You can’t even put Hailburton in the same breath.

Jordan hill

Yes Curry is a all time player but what makes him elite and possibly the best PG ever is the system that he plays in/built along with the depth and players the Warriors got him. You think Curry has the same career winning if he was drafted by the Knicks?

Curry is the one that enables the system that the Warriors play, though.

The same can be said for Haliburton, by the way. We're not running that kind of offense with a different PG.

Exactly what I'm saying. How many pass first point guards are in the league anymore? And one that can get off and make shots like him.

[ArksNetsSince99]

Never expected this out of Indy. Thought they were too up and down but no. This is insanely impressive. Idk
How much of a dog they should be against OKC if that’s the matchup

I wasn’t sure but once you jumped on the Knicks bandwagon bro it became clear Pacers got this

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Happy for Siakam... will always remind all the dumbass GMs and fanbases who didnt think he was worth trading for...

Don’t think people thought he wasn’t worth trading for, they just didn’t wanna trade a ton for a potential half year rental.

Yeah he was on his contract year Pacers gave 3 #1's and Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwara. I was against it at the time because of the the 2026 #1 pick. But the trade worked out fine as Pascal Signed a long term deal. I didn't think he'd sign.

Apparently Siakam made it known he wanted to go to Indiana.

The Haliburton effect.

[Hoop Hunter]

Where’s that LFGK guy? Haven’t seen him since he called all the long time Pacers fans trolls.

His mommy may have took his internet privileges away.

[Mamba81p]

So, it's been two games now since New York inserted Mitchell Robinson for Josh Hart into the starting lineup. How do you all feel about that?

I feel that Robinson has been less effective as a starter but, on the other hand, Hart feels much more impactful off the bench.

Our winning lineups vs. you guys have featured length and defense. We slow the offense and then get the ball to _either_ KAT or Brunson.

Mitch in the SL helps some of that but lineups with Wright, Shamet, and Deuce let us slow your pace, get into half court, and let our scorers take charge.

Y'all have been a handful though. Stopping the run is easier said than done.

Especially in today's NBA where you have to shoot at least 20 3s and that increases the pace. In theory if you take all your shots inside and from the FT line you will have a slow paced game.

[Capn'O]

So, it's been two games now since New York inserted Mitchell Robinson for Josh Hart into the starting lineup. How do you all feel about that?

I feel that Robinson has been less effective as a starter but, on the other hand, Hart feels much more impactful off the bench.

Our winning lineups vs. you guys have featured length and defense. We slow the offense and then get the ball to _either_ KAT or Brunson.

Mitch in the SL helps some of that but lineups with Wright, Shamet, and Deuce let us slow your pace, get into half court, and let our scorers take charge.

Y'all have been a handful though. Stopping the run is easier said than done.

I agree. It's the smaller lineups with multiple smaller defenders and KAT that have given us the most trouble. KAT + Robinson hasn't worked great these last two games. It's still better than your previous SL, don't get me wrong, and Thibs does deserve credit for adapting and changing his rotations around, I just wanted to note that it was funny seeing Hart being the biggest beneficiary of this change and being so much off the bench.

He had a TON of TOs tonight though was more of a menace in the 4th. Prior to that he was killing us though.

I think if we had gone to some of those other lineups earlier and then brought the Villanova crew back late we had a shot. We had to play it near perfectly though. Hali and Siakam played masterful games. Hali's outplayed Brunson this series, which he didn't last year. So kudos to him.

[azcatz11]

Never expected this out of Indy. Thought they were too up and down but no. This is insanely impressive. Idk
How much of a dog they should be against OKC if that’s the matchup

I wasn’t sure but once you jumped on the Knicks bandwagon bro it became clear Pacers got this

Yep. Been riding the Knicks all series and you see first hand what’s happened.

[RaptorPride]

damn coming this close to the finals/a chip just to watch us slip away right before your eyes really sucks… rather lose in the first round lol

Imagine how LeBronto felt

[kodo]

So, it's been two games now since New York inserted Mitchell Robinson for Josh Hart into the starting lineup. How do you all feel about that?

I feel that Robinson has been less effective as a starter but, on the other hand, Hart feels much more impactful off the bench.

The bench needs Hart or somebody. Other than Hart no bench player scored more than 3 points.

[Capn'O]

Don’t think people thought he wasn’t worth trading for, they just didn’t wanna trade a ton for a potential half year rental.

Yeah he was on his contract year Pacers gave 3 #1's and Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwara. I was against it at the time because of the the 2026 #1 pick. But the trade worked out fine as Pascal Signed a long term deal. I didn't think he'd sign.

Apparently Siakam made it known he wanted to go to Indiana.

The Haliburton effect.

You can check the acquisition threads. I thought you guys robbed Toronto.

[Wingy]

I wouldn’t have thought before the series, but sure there were some who saw it:
The starters are supposed to be the Knicks strength, but they are outmatched.

How many Knicks would you take over Pacers when looking at the starting lineup?

Brunson/Hali - I’ll say it’s a wash

I’d take Nembhard over Hart…I think Hart’s “heart of the team” thing is overrated when it comes to real impact.

Nesmith/Bridges - I’d have said Bridges going in…now I really don’t know

Siakam > OG

I’d take Towns over Turner, but the gap isn’t massive. I think Towns makes a lot of stupid, losing plays that don’t draw near the attention that his at times brilliant plays do garner.

Plus I think the Pacers guys work better together, a lot because Hali is a more classic PG and Brunson is a score first PG.

[SpreeS]

Looking at Indy, this could be elite constructed team. I am not talking about talent level, but about players skills fit intto these days basketball and total structure as a unit.

Two bigs who can score, shoot and defend
3nD wing
Two guards who can score, shoot, playmake
Good bench
Good coach

[azcatz11]

Looking at Indy, this could be elite constructed team. I am not talking about talent level, but about players skills fit intto these days basketball and total structure as a unit.

Two bigs who can score, shoot and defend
3nD wing
Two guards who can score, shoot, playmake
Good bench
Good coach

Myles turner may be the most under appreciated player of all time

[Nuntius]

Our winning lineups vs. you guys have featured length and defense. We slow the offense and then get the ball to _either_ KAT or Brunson.

Mitch in the SL helps some of that but lineups with Wright, Shamet, and Deuce let us slow your pace, get into half court, and let our scorers take charge.

Y'all have been a handful though. Stopping the run is easier said than done.

I agree. It's the smaller lineups with multiple smaller defenders and KAT that have given us the most trouble. KAT + Robinson hasn't worked great these last two games. It's still better than your previous SL, don't get me wrong, and Thibs does deserve credit for adapting and changing his rotations around, I just wanted to note that it was funny seeing Hart being the biggest beneficiary of this change and being so much off the bench.

He had a TON of TOs tonight though was more of a menace in the 4th. Prior to that he was killing us though.

I think if we had gone to some of those other lineups earlier and then brought the Villanova crew back late we had a shot. We had to play it near perfectly though. Hali and Siakam played masterful games. Hali's outplayed Brunson this series, which he didn't last year. So kudos to him.

Agreed on all accounts. Hart did have some bad turnovers in the first half.

[djsunyc]

Looking at Indy, this could be elite constructed team. I am not talking about talent level, but about players skills fit intto these days basketball and total structure as a unit.

Two bigs who can score, shoot and defend
3nD wing
Two guards who can score, shoot, playmake
Good bench
Good coach

just get good 2 way players and hope they have chemistry. that's the pacers and okc. then how far they go depends on how good their top guys are.