Pacers vs. Knicks series predictions: The Eastern Conference Finals no 'expert' saw coming
The Eastern Conference Finals begin Wednesday night with Game 1 at Madison Square Garden between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks. That likely comes to a shock to the folks at ESPN who may tune into TNT expecting to see the Cavaliers vs. Celtics. ESPN writers went 0-22 in their East semifinals predictions.
A link to their conference finals brings up an error message as of Tuesday morning. It's probably for the best.
Here are our predictions for Pacers-Knicks, plus some more rounded up from across the web:
∎ Dustin Dopirak, IndyStar: Pacers in 6
The Knicks' best five players are better than the Pacers' best five, but the Pacers' go 11 deep and they've proven their greatest strength is their ability to wear teams down with full-court pressure and relentless transition offense. The Knicks' starting five has to be insanely well-conditioned but they have three of the top 10 players in the NBA in total minutes. At some point, that workload wears on the body and my presumption is the Knicks will be very vulnerable to the Pacers' wear-down effect. It might take a few games for the Pacers to turn things in their favor, but I expect the Knicks to be exhausted when this is over just as the Cavs and Bucks were.
∎ Kyle Neddenriep, IndyStar: Pacers in 7
I believe the Pacers are the better team. I also believe there is going to be a tidal wave of energy at Madison Square Garden for the first two games of this series. But … the Pacers fell down 0-2 to the Knicks in last year's Eastern semis before coming back to win in seven games. Says here the Pacers' relentless pace will eventually wear down the iron men Knicks.
∎ Gregg Doyel, IndyStar: Pacers in 7
Until this Pacers team loses a series, I'm finding it hard to believe it will lose a series. Unless OKC is waiting in the NBA Finals and then … anyway. Pacers in seven!
∎ Nat Newell, IndyStar: Knicks in 6
This is a better and healthier (for now) Knicks team than the Pacers beat last year. Will Jalen Brunson foul out Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith? Can Myles Turner handle Karl Anthony-Towns? The joyride comes to an end.
∎ Matthew Glenesk, IndyStar: Pacers in 6
Out of 50 prognosticators for the conference semifinals, I was one of only two to pick the Pacers to beat the Cavaliers, why stop now? (Kyle Neddenriep was the other brave soul.) One of the key talking points heading into the series is the Knicks are healthy this year as opposed to last year's series. And they may healthy now, but I have a feeling the Pacers' pace and going 11 deep in their rotation will wear on the Knicks, who basically just play their starters. Donovan Mitchell wasn't on the injury report for the Cavs until he had to go three games against this Pacers team. It's 48 minutes, 94 feet. It will be physically taxing. The Knicks are better than they were last year, no doubt. But the Pacers are, too. Should be a meat-grinder of a series.
∎ Chris Iseman, Bergen Record: Knicks in 6
The Pacers are a really good team, and they're deep. They wear teams down. That could be a problem for the Knicks since they're not exactly the deepest team. But their starters are used to playing a lot of minutes. And perhaps most importantly, the Knicks right now are playing at a high level defensively. If they can string full 48-minute performances together, the Knicks will be Finals-bound.
∎ Bert Bainbridge, Bergen Record: Knicks in 7
What a redemption story this could be for the Knicks. After being up 2-0 and 3-2 in last year's second round matchup against the Pacers, New York couldn't close the deal and lost Game 7 at Madison Square Garden with star point guard Jalen Brunson leaving with a broken left hand. The last time the Knicks were in this position also happened to be against the Pacers — notably led by Reggie Miller — who won in six games a quarter century ago.
This time around, Brunson and Co. get their revenge, beating Indiana in Game 7 at MSG and leading the Knicks to their first NBA Finals appearance in 26 years.
∎ Brian Marron, Bergen Record: Pacers in 6
As the playoffs drag on, the Pacers' depth becomes more of a strength. They can throw multiple defenders at Jalen Brunson, and guard him for the full length of the court for every minute he's out there. Indiana should be able to pester and wear down Brunson to allow its high-flying offense to score enough points to move on to the NBA Finals.
∎ Dave Rivera, Bergen Record: Knicks in 7
Who would've thought the Knicks would be at the doorstep of making it to the NBA Finals? Yet here they are after eliminating the defending champion Celtics. Now they have a chance to avenge last year's playoff loss to the Pacers when it looked like the Knicks had that series in hand. Expect every game to be a grind in this series, and in the end, Jalen Brunson carries his team to an epic Game 7 victory at the Garden.
∎ Art Stapleton, Bergen Record: Knicks in 6
I think the Knicks will play a lot looser this series having knocked off the defending champions. Losing in Boston in Game 5 taught this team a lesson that should prove beneficial the rest of the way. What I liked most about the series-clinching win over the Celtics was the group effort. Sure, the focus will be on Jalen Brunson vs. Tyrese Haliburton, yet the key will be whether the unsung guys - Deuce McBride, Mitchell Robinson - can outplay Indiana's fantastic bench. I'm predicting they will.
∎ Bob Jordan, Bergen Record: Knicks in 5
Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 19.8 points and 12.7 rebounds a game against the Celtics but his Game 6 work was a thing of beauty. We don't often see that level from KAT over consecutive games, let alone an entire series, but if he's locked in through next week it will be a gentlemen's sweep.
∎ Shakeia Taylor, The Athletic: Pacers in 6
The teams look about even, in my opinion, but I don't expect it to end quickly. A longer series should favor the Pacers, and if their series against the Cavs is any indication — they won three games on the road and weren't rattled by the noise of the Cleveland crowd — I think they have a shot to make their own history. Indiana is fast, physical and hungry, and coach Rick Carlisle's championship experience cannot be overlooked.
∎ James L. Edwards III, The Athletic: Knicks in 7
Indiana is in the midst of the most dominating playoff run by any team still remaining, and I think that will benefit the Pacers in the first game or two. However, the Knicks are the more talented team with the best player in the series in Brunson.
Furthermore, Bridges is a good matchup for Haliburton. Anunoby is the perfect matchup for Siakam. I don't think Nembhard will out Josh Hart Josh Hart. I just don't trust the Pacers' secondary guys to be good enough for long enough, assuming New York only puts up one or two defensive stinkers in this series. And, yes, you have to pencil the Knicks in for a defensive stinker or two.
∎ Fred Katz, The Athletic: Knicks in 7
Both of these teams are better than their overarching, regular-season performances. The Pacers finished the year 50-32, tightening up their defense in the process. The Knicks are tougher, grittier, healthier and more technically sound than they were for most of the first 82.
I anticipate this coming down to the wire, but even if the Pacers did pull off a Game 7 victory at Madison Square Garden last season (thanks to a historic shooting performance), it's difficult to choose the road team in a close-out game.
∎ Peter Dewey, SI.com: Knicks in 7
Indiana's frantic pace and penchant for pressing full court can take the Knicks out of rhythm, but it's worth noting that New York has pushed the pace a little more in the playoffs, compared to the rest of the league, than it did in the regular season.
Ultimately, I think Brunson is the difference in this series. Not only has he been the best clutch player in the NBA this season, but Indiana doesn't have a great matchup for him across the board. The Knicks, unlike last season, now have multiple defenders they can throw at Tyrese Haliburton, and they'll actually have Robinson in the lineup against Indiana.
With the Knicks holding home court, I think they win this series, but it's going to be a long battle.
∎ David Vertsberger, SNY.com: Knicks in 6
In a postseason full of things people thought the Knicks couldn't do, it feels odd saying they should win this series and advance to the NBA Finals. The Pacers are no pushovers, and will put up a hard fought series, but the Knicks have the talent and coaching to trump them.
odds via BetMGM
The Knicks are slight favorites to win the series at -155. Pacers are +130 to advance to the NBA Finals. The series result with the best odds is Knicks in 7 at +350. Indiana beat the Bucks in five games and the Cavaliers in five games. If you like trends, go for the Pacers in five games vs. Knicks at a nice +950 payout.
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New York Times
44 minutes ago
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