VDesai wrote:Isiah Jackson was an important player for the Pacers last year given we didnt have Mitch. He is out.

The player that they have available that we didn't see is Mathurin. Another athletic scorer to account for - but not a defender and if he plays they have to put Nesmith on the bench. We all know Nesmith fouling Brunson 4 times every posession and getting away with it is a key to their defensive plan.

I-Jackson did kill us with some timely buckets, blocks and boards -- glad he's out.

martin wrote:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/knicks_union/status/1923759744000434641

Here are the games the Knicks and Pacers have played the last 2 years:

2024-25 Regular Season
Feb 11, 2025    W  128 - 115  - Mitch out  vs. Isaiah Jackson, Turner out
Nov 10, 2024    L  121 - 132  - Mitch, Precious, Cam out  vs. Isiah Jackson out 
Oct 25, 2024    W  123 - 98   - Mitch, Precious out  vs. Wiseman out 
2024 Playoffs
Game 1          W  121 - 117  - Mitch played 12 mins (injured in Philly series), Randle, Bogs out vs. Mathurin out
Game 2          W  130 - 121  - Mitch, Randle, Bogs out vs. Mathurin out
Game 3          L  106 - 111  - Mitch, OG, Randle, Bogs out vs. Mathurin out
Game 4          L  89  - 129  - Mitch, OG, Randle, Bogs out vs. Mathurin out
Game 5          W  121 - 91   - Mitch, OG, Randle, Bogs out vs. Mathurin out
Game 6          L  103 - 116  - Mitch, OG, Randle, Bogs out, Josh Hart abdominal strain mid-game vs. Mathurin out
Game 7          L  109 - 130  - Mitch, Randle, Bogs out, OG (5 mins only), Brunson fractured hand mid-game  vs Mathurin out
2023-24 Regular Season
Feb 10, 2024    L  111 - 125  - Mitch, iHart, OG out vs Jalen Smith, Jarace Walker out
Feb 01, 2024    W  109 - 105  - Mitch OG, Randle, Grimes out vs. Mathurin out
Dec 30, 2023    L  126 - 140  - Mitch, OG, Precious, Grimes out vs. Bruce Brown out

Notice the big discrepancies between injured lists in all these matchups? They have only seen 12 mins of injured Mitch in the past 2 years! We healthy now!

LivingLegend wrote:

martin wrote:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/knicks_union/status/1923759744000434641

We certainly have the revenge/pay-back factor --- have to hope we stay fully healthy and go from there.

Watching the Pacer's they look much improved to me. Full year of Pascal, younger guys maturing and they seem to be playing much better D.
They were pressuring all the way up the floor the first 2 series. Don't want to watch Jalen 15 second trips up the court.

I think we have the pieces and match-ups to take them down.

Can't (100% can't) blow a game we have in hand - Indy is always pulling something out of their ass.

Been saying how well the Pacers have looked the last two months. Can be argued they were one of if not hottest team in the NBA.

Key for me is for us to get back in transition and defend Halliburton well.
They like a fast pace game and will push the ball. If we can get them to play a half court offense, we will keep their scoring drastically down. Stopping Halliburton penetration will also be key. Guys feed off it and get lots of open looks. As always, we will need the Knicks rotational defense to be at its best.

I got Knicks in 6.

To have OG and Mitch is a big deal. And they really don't have the big wings to guard Brunson and KAT. If Siakam is on KAT, then that is the key matchup. Also we should dominate them on the glass when Mitch is out there.

HofstraBBall wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

martin wrote:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/knicks_union/status/1923759744000434641

We certainly have the revenge/pay-back factor --- have to hope we stay fully healthy and go from there.

Watching the Pacer's they look much improved to me. Full year of Pascal, younger guys maturing and they seem to be playing much better D.
They were pressuring all the way up the floor the first 2 series. Don't want to watch Jalen 15 second trips up the court.

I think we have the pieces and match-ups to take them down.

Can't (100% can't) blow a game we have in hand - Indy is always pulling something out of their ass.

Been saying how well the Pacers have looked the last two months. Can be argued they were one of if not hottest team in the NBA.

Key for me is for us to get back in transition and defend Halliburton well.
They like a fast pace game and will push the ball. If we can get them to play a half court offense, we will keep their scoring drastically down. Stopping Halliburton penetration will also be key. Guys feed off it and get lots of open looks. As always, we will need the Knicks rotational defense to be at its best.

I got Knicks in 6.

Yes - if we can play good offense (including shooting solid %) while also controlling pace some.

That combo would allow us to set the D - a must vs Pacers.

Also think I'm more comfortable with switching everything vs Pacers. Maybe Hali/Pascal give us some troubles but can't play drop on Hali floater and can't get lost and give Turner wide open shots off blown screen rotations.

All we gotta do is let KAT go to work on them, they have absolutely no one that can guard him.

Philc1 wrote:

fishmike wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:Now I can enjoy this topic.

we earned this matchup. Beating Boston was epic and nobody gave us a chance.

I do think we are a better team than the Pacers AND we match up well. They will win a game or two but we have a lot of success against them. We would have won last year... up 2-0 when OG goes down

We match up better with Indy than Cleveland plus we have home court.

Have fun with it as you may but bottom line is both teams are pretty darn healthy and have risen above their higher seeded foes to advance and are feeling it. Both teams are better than last year. Its justified to think since we were injured last year we should win. Hali was not himself last year and he is the straw that stirs that drink.

This is the 9th time in 32 or 34 years we meet in the playoffs. Don't matter who has the series advantage historically because the players and coaches are not the same. We ache three new starters this year and everyone is healthy. Reggie Miller don't mean **** other than he calling the game. I hope he tries hard to remain neutral. If Knicks winning, he'll be just fine. If not he'll be happy and that will annoy Knick fans. Its not hate, its entertaining. He is not that great at what he does to begin with so his redundancy will be annoying either way.

NbA playoff ratings are up this year. This one goes long it should continue. Logically I'd think if there is a conspiracy of greed Knicks are a better ratings draw.

martin wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

martin wrote:Caitlin knows her stuff

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/c2_cooper/status/1924106149260882384

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/c2_cooper/status/1924106153362870734

Too lazy - can you summarize Martin?

KAT needs to step up. Knicks in 6.

Thanks