ECF Playoff Game Thread: Pacers @ Knicks, Game 5, May 29th 8pm

[Appleshampoo]

just win tonight and at least make Indy sweat a bit...losing in 5 would be a bad look. Can't lose all 3 at home and then say hey positives. Win at all costs.

wow, this puts it into perspective.. the sting of 0-3 at home versus Indiana would overshadow a lot of good things. Inspire the crowd early, keep the Pacers runs limited, get the building buzzing. Ticket prices are more manageable today. Let's Go Knicks

[K_ick_God]

just win tonight and at least make Indy sweat a bit...losing in 5 would be a bad look. Can't lose all 3 at home and then say hey positives. Win at all costs.

wow, this puts it into perspective.. the sting of 0-3 at home versus Indiana would overshadow a lot of good things. Inspire the crowd early, keep the Pacers runs limited, get the building buzzing. Ticket prices are more manageable today. Let's Go Knicks

Unless you look at it as wanting Thibs gone. Losing in 5 may help that cause.

[K_ick_God]

Wright is being wildly overrated by a fandom that’s desperately scrambling for answers. He’s played valiantly in his minutes and I tip my cap to him but he’s not Jrue Holiday or something

Good comparison, he is a lot like Jrue Holiday.

[K_ick_God]

JVG makes a good and fair point - he has made concrete changes. And he's made a bunch of them. To some of us, these changes don't seem to be timely or precisely enough applied.

[Appleshampoo]

Hart on Hali
OG on Siakam
JB on Nembhard
Mikal on Nesmith
KAT on Turner

Stop switching on screens and go over the screen on defense and double team on mismatches. Team needs to hustle back on defense.

Agree. The Pacers run screen plays to create mismatches and these have been killing the Knicks time and time again.

I would put OG on Hali to fight through the screens better than Mikal. Mikal can somewhat hang with Siakam... probably better than he's been hanging with Hali. If we can hold Hali to 50% of his output of the last game, then we've got a shot. OG/Wright/Duece are the only ones able to throw him off his game a bit.

Another reason to change OG's assignment is Siakim has been so good. Is it realistic to send a stunt defender at Siakim when he's backing down his defender? Similar to what Indy does versus Brunson and KAT. I'm not sure we can rotate and recover well enough, but it might be okay if he's less comfortable and shooting less. His ability to draw a foul is hurting momentum.

[Besart19]

Robinson / Achiuwa
Anunoby / Hart
Bridges / Shamet
McBride / Wright
Brunson / Payne

With Towns

Towns / Robinson
Achiuwa / Hart
Anunoby / Bridges
McBride / Shamet
Brunson / Wright

[Jeff Van Gully]

JVG makes a good and fair point - he has made concrete changes. And he's made a bunch of them. To some of us, these changes don't seem to be timely or precisely enough applied.

thanks, KG. right. the rest of it is a different conversation altogether.

[Appleshampoo]

just win tonight and at least make Indy sweat a bit...losing in 5 would be a bad look. Can't lose all 3 at home and then say hey positives. Win at all costs.

wow, this puts it into perspective.. the sting of 0-3 at home versus Indiana would overshadow a lot of good things. Inspire the crowd early, keep the Pacers runs limited, get the building buzzing. Ticket prices are more manageable today. Let's Go Knicks

Unless you look at it as wanting Thibs gone. Losing in 5 may help that cause.

True, but I'm not convinced Leon Rose will do that. It's more probable an offensive schemer is added to the staff and Rick Brunson slides over a seat.

[K_ick_God]

I actually thought Precious looked like the perfect player for this series in the small time he was in lol

To an extent, we see what we want to see I guess

[Jeff Van Gully]

Hart on Hali
OG on Siakam
JB on Nembhard
Mikal on Nesmith
KAT on Turner

Stop switching on screens and go over the screen on defense and double team on mismatches. Team needs to hustle back on defense.

Agree. The Pacers run screen plays to create mismatches and these have been killing the Knicks time and time again.

I would put OG on Hali to fight through the screens better than Mikal. Mikal can somewhat hang with Siakam... probably better than he's been hanging with Hali. If we can hold Hali to 50% of his output of the last game, then we've got a shot. OG/Wright/Duece are the only ones able to throw him off his game a bit.

i get this, but mikal's speed and agility probably make him the better primary defender for hali. OG is a great defender, but might not be quite quick enough to deal with hali at that volume.

[Jeff Van Gully]

I actually thought Precious looked like the perfect player for this series in the small time he was in lol

To an extent, we see what we want to see I guess

digging the self-awareness. i think we are all guilty of this to an extent.

and I've seen the point made that the pacers have risen to the level of physicality we bring. i agree with this statement. on one hand, precious can help with getting bodied. but on the other hand, we're winning the glass and still losing.

pacers just create a lot of problems.

i think the way they took out the cavs gives credence to the notion that we don't win these wars on paper. you have to play. cavs do all the strategic things a lot of fans on here clamor for. it didn't work. pacers find different ways to exploit defenses. they deserve a lot of credit and never should have been underestimated.

i picked knicks in 5 because i thought the knicks were super up after finishing boston off they way they did. it was in no way meant to discredit the pacers, who i have always found quite dangerous and worthy. still sucks to be down.

[Clyde_Style]

Wright is being wildly overrated by a fandom that’s desperately scrambling for answers. He’s played valiantly in his minutes and I tip my cap to him but he’s not Jrue Holiday or something

Nobody did that. He's merely balances out our defense which needed a boost.

Yeah I agree with that, and he’s going to have his opportunity to continue to play well in that role but that’s all we should expect, he’s not going to completely supplant someone like Mikal or Josh hart or save the team from elimination, but he can do his part defensively in his bench minutes which can be valuable, everyone else needs to do the same and step up

I couldn't find that image of the kid smoking a pipe saying indeed so I made my own for the occasion

[K_ick_God]

I actually thought Precious looked like the perfect player for this series in the small time he was in lol

To an extent, we see what we want to see I guess

digging the self-awareness. i think we are all guilty of this to an extent.

and I've seen the point made that the pacers have risen to the level of physicality we bring. i agree with this statement. on one hand, precious can help with getting bodied. but on the other hand, we're winning the glass and still losing.

pacers just create a lot of problems.

i think the way they took out the cavs gives credence to the notion that we don't win these wars on paper. you have to play. cavs do all the strategic things a lot of fans on here clamor for. it didn't work. pacers find different ways to exploit defenses. they deserve a lot of credit and never should have been underestimated.

i picked knicks in 5 because i thought the knicks were super up after finishing boston off they way they did. it was in no way meant to discredit the pacers, who i have always found quite dangerous and worthy. still sucks to be down.

Not to go there, again lol, but I think you were right to a large extent. They played G1 like a team that was peaking.

[Jeff Van Gully]

wow, this puts it into perspective.. the sting of 0-3 at home versus Indiana would overshadow a lot of good things. Inspire the crowd early, keep the Pacers runs limited, get the building buzzing. Ticket prices are more manageable today. Let's Go Knicks

Unless you look at it as wanting Thibs gone. Losing in 5 may help that cause.

True, but I'm not convinced Leon Rose will do that. It's more probable an offensive schemer is added to the staff and Rick Brunson slides over a seat.

could be the right answer to keep the thibslamic principles of toughness and togetherness while adding to the strategic areas of concern.

this never has to be the zero sum conversation it regularly devolves into.

[sol537]

Agree. The Pacers run screen plays to create mismatches and these have been killing the Knicks time and time again.

I would put OG on Hali to fight through the screens better than Mikal. Mikal can somewhat hang with Siakam... probably better than he's been hanging with Hali. If we can hold Hali to 50% of his output of the last game, then we've got a shot. OG/Wright/Duece are the only ones able to throw him off his game a bit.

i get this, but mikal's speed and agility probably make him the better primary defender for hali. OG is a great defender, but might not be quite quick enough to deal with hali at that volume.

Mikal on Hali has worked about as good as Pineapple on pizza so far.

[Clyde_Style]

I actually thought Precious looked like the perfect player for this series in the small time he was in lol

To an extent, we see what we want to see I guess

digging the self-awareness. i think we are all guilty of this to an extent.

and I've seen the point made that the pacers have risen to the level of physicality we bring. i agree with this statement. on one hand, precious can help with getting bodied. but on the other hand, we're winning the glass and still losing.

pacers just create a lot of problems.

i think the way they took out the cavs gives credence to the notion that we don't win these wars on paper. you have to play. cavs do all the strategic things a lot of fans on here clamor for. it didn't work. pacers find different ways to exploit defenses. they deserve a lot of credit and never should have been underestimated.

i picked knicks in 5 because i thought the knicks were super up after finishing boston off they way they did. it was in no way meant to discredit the pacers, who i have always found quite dangerous and worthy. still sucks to be down.

The post-Game 6 high was better than all the crack I've smoked, the meth I've snorted, the girls I've known biblically or the pastrami sandwiches at The Carnegie Deli I have eaten.

Alas, that high wore off quickly and with it my Knicks in 5 prediction also died a miserable death

[Jeff Van Gully]

I would put OG on Hali to fight through the screens better than Mikal. Mikal can somewhat hang with Siakam... probably better than he's been hanging with Hali. If we can hold Hali to 50% of his output of the last game, then we've got a shot. OG/Wright/Duece are the only ones able to throw him off his game a bit.

i get this, but mikal's speed and agility probably make him the better primary defender for hali. OG is a great defender, but might not be quite quick enough to deal with hali at that volume.

Mikal on Hali has worked about as good as Pineapple on pizza so far.

so many levels to that quip (about perspective). but point taken.

the counterpoint being, it might be the best we can do.

[Jeff Van Gully]

I actually thought Precious looked like the perfect player for this series in the small time he was in lol

To an extent, we see what we want to see I guess

digging the self-awareness. i think we are all guilty of this to an extent.

and I've seen the point made that the pacers have risen to the level of physicality we bring. i agree with this statement. on one hand, precious can help with getting bodied. but on the other hand, we're winning the glass and still losing.

pacers just create a lot of problems.

i think the way they took out the cavs gives credence to the notion that we don't win these wars on paper. you have to play. cavs do all the strategic things a lot of fans on here clamor for. it didn't work. pacers find different ways to exploit defenses. they deserve a lot of credit and never should have been underestimated.

i picked knicks in 5 because i thought the knicks were super up after finishing boston off they way they did. it was in no way meant to discredit the pacers, who i have always found quite dangerous and worthy. still sucks to be down.

The post-Game 6 high was better than all the crack I've smoked, the meth I've snorted, the girls I've known biblically or the pastrami sandwiches at The Carnegie Deli I have eaten.

Alas, that high wore off quickly and with it my Knicks in 5 prediction also died a miserable death

[Appleshampoo]

digging the self-awareness. i think we are all guilty of this to an extent.

and I've seen the point made that the pacers have risen to the level of physicality we bring. i agree with this statement. on one hand, precious can help with getting bodied. but on the other hand, we're winning the glass and still losing.

pacers just create a lot of problems.

i think the way they took out the cavs gives credence to the notion that we don't win these wars on paper. you have to play. cavs do all the strategic things a lot of fans on here clamor for. it didn't work. pacers find different ways to exploit defenses. they deserve a lot of credit and never should have been underestimated.

i picked knicks in 5 because i thought the knicks were super up after finishing boston off they way they did. it was in no way meant to discredit the pacers, who i have always found quite dangerous and worthy. still sucks to be down.

The post-Game 6 high was better than all the crack I've smoked, the meth I've snorted, the girls I've known biblically or the pastrami sandwiches at The Carnegie Deli I have eaten.

Alas, that high wore off quickly and with it my Knicks in 5 prediction also died a miserable death

you are going to love it

Watch on YouTube

i got you, gang. -JVG

[8516knicks]

wow, this puts it into perspective.. the sting of 0-3 at home versus Indiana would overshadow a lot of good things. Inspire the crowd early, keep the Pacers runs limited, get the building buzzing. Ticket prices are more manageable today. Let's Go Knicks

Unless you look at it as wanting Thibs gone. Losing in 5 may help that cause.

True, but I'm not convinced Leon Rose will do that. It's more probable an offensive schemer is added to the staff and Rick Brunson slides over a seat.

The first ECF in over 30 years we CANNOT just mail it in. Or think of doing it. Even if u lust for a new coach, it's not worth tarnishing the bright spots of this season. Win tonight. Or at least go down fighting.