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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Knicks vs. Pacers: Indiana stays true to itself to punch ticket to NBA Finals
INDIANAPOLIS — The temptation, after Tyrese Haliburton scored just eight points on seven shots in a disappointing Game 5 loss, was to call for the Indiana Pacers to adjust the sliders for Game 6 by overindexing on the kind of aggression that's easy to see in the box score — to counteract the New York Knicks' stepped-up ball pressure with hunted shots and hero ball. That's not what Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle called for, though. Advertisement 'As a team, we have to be aggressive, and we have to have a level of balance,' he said after Game 5. Which is to say: They needed to play Pacers basketball. The many-hands-make-light-work approach that has produced one of the NBA's most potent offenses. The insistence on pipe-bursting, full-court ball pressure that has made the Pacers one of the NBA's most improved defenses. The commitment to running 12 deep — and to all 12 of 'em running, off makes and misses — that makes them tough to handle on the second night of a back-to-back in February, but that makes them an absolute nightmare to deal with every other night for two weeks in late May. It's a play style that elevates collective effect over individual impact — one that makes the Pacers different and special, has made them one of the best teams in the NBA for nearly six months … and now, has made them Eastern Conference champions. Eleven Pacers played before garbage time in Saturday's 125-108 Game 6 win, and seven of them scored in double figures. Andrew Nembhard changed the game with his defense on Knicks star Jalen Brunson, snatching six steals and getting his offensive game unstuck with 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting. Backup center Thomas Bryant, who'd seen his minutes dwindle in favor of Tony Bradley's superior ability to battle Knicks center Mitchell Robinson on the glass, got an opportunity to return to the fold with Bradley nursing an injured hip; he made the most of it, drilling three huge 3-pointers, blocking a shot and finishing with 11 points in 13 minutes. Obi Toppin provided his trademark irrepressible energy and above-the-rim finishing against the team that drafted and then traded him, chipping in 18 points, six rebounds and three blocks. (That last stat drew a surprised smile after the game from Haliburton, who chided Toppin for having 'all that athleticism, but just [not using] it on the defensive end sometimes.') Advertisement 'We've preached depth this whole year,' said Haliburton, who didn't need to dominate the ball or the shots to bounce back from his quiet Game 5, tallying 21 points, 13 assists, six rebounds, three steals and a block. 'We keep talking about it, and it's not just a word we use for fun. This is our identity, and this is who we are, and I thought we did a great job of utilizing that. We had many different people step up.' Including, of course, Indiana's superstars, who knew they had to turn in more forceful and productive outings back home in Game 6 than they had at Madison Square Garden in Game 5, and who answered the call. Pascal Siakam kept the offense afloat early, scoring 16 first-half points to stake Indiana to leads after the first and second quarters of a tight, tense elimination-game first half contested entirely within two possessions, with neither team able to gain more than six points of separation. He tilted the run of play in the Pacers' favor shortly after intermission, having a hand in three straight buckets — a pick-and-pop 3, a setup for an Aaron Nesmith 3 in transition and a transition leak-out and beautiful reverse finish through contact — that amounted to a 9-0 run to put Indiana up 13 early in the third and giving it the separation it needed to push the Knicks past their breaking point. Siakam would finish with a game-high 31 points, five rebounds, three assists, three blocks and a steal — another monster performance in an Eastern Conference finals where the Knicks never really found a great answer for him, where he made abundantly clear why Pacers brass felt he was the missing piece they had to go all out to get at the 2024 trade deadline and of which he was voted the Most Valuable Player. Advertisement 'It's cool,' Siakam said of the Larry Bird Trophy, which he brought with him to his postgame news conference. 'I didn't know they had a trophy for that, but I'm excited.' Not as excited, though, as he is to get another chance to play for a much bigger gold trophy, six years after he hoisted it with the 2019 Toronto Raptors. 'I was telling the guys — I mean, like, for me, you know, I got there when I was in Year 3, and I thought I would get back there a lot. And it didn't happen,' Siakam said. 'So it's a hell of an opportunity, and you don't know when you're gonna get it again. So I think we have to have a mindset of going out there and, at the end of the day, just giving everything we've got and knowing that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.' Yep, the Indiana Pacers are going to the NBA Finals. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Haliburton didn't get many good shots early, going without a field goal until he sprinted into a pull-up 3 four and a half minutes into the second quarter. But he kept reading the game, kept moving the ball and his body, and kept trusting that the deposits that he and the Pacers had put in over the course of the game and the series — all those miles they put on the Knicks' legs, all the mental and physical strain they'd put on New York's players with their frenetic, relentless motion — would eventually pay off. Advertisement And then, in the fourth quarter, the dam burst, with Haliburton slicing the Knicks' pick-and-roll coverage to ribbons, repeatedly getting into the paint to either finish for himself or set up a rolling Obi Toppin for a layup or dunk. Haliburton scored or assisted on 19 points in the fourth, capping it with a 32-foot bomb in the final minute to push the lead to 20 — a coup de grâce to pack up the Knicks and send them back to New York and to send the Pacers to the NBA Finals. 'I'm so proud of Tyrese, bro. For real, man,' Pacers center Myles Turner said. 'Y'all seen — you know, when it comes to being a superstar, bro, you got to take everything that comes with it. The highs and the lows, the good and the bad. And you know, from how the season started, to how he was getting trashed, and everybody was basically trying to turn their heads to him, he just kept his head down and kept working, man. Even going into this playoffs, the whole 'overrated' thing — I mean, obviously, we know that's dead now. There's not much you can say now.' Haliburton's playmaking and pace, Siakam's ceaseless sprinting and gap-filling offensive play, and the strength-in-numbers approach carried the offense. What killed the Knicks, though, was Indiana repeatedly forcing them into costly mistakes — 17 turnovers leading to 34 Pacer points, as the team's season-long commitment to cranking up the tempo and maintaining vise-grip pressure eventually claimed yet another victim. Advertisement 'Our defense is something we've been working on steadfastly for over a year and a half,' Carlisle said. 'I mean, really. The year started last year with, really, a different set of rules. We were playing small and even faster. It wasn't a team that had great defenders. But we've gotten better defenders, we've gotten bigger, we got Pascal, and the guys co-signed on the importance of defense, and everybody has participated in the growth.' For Turner, the growth started in the summer of 2015, when he came to Indiana as a reedy 19-year-old. A decade full of ups, downs, trade rumors, frontcourt partners and frustrations later, the longest-tenured Pacer is on his way to his first NBA Finals. 'When the buzzer was sounding, it was just … nothing but joy, man,' Turner said. 'Just pure excitement. Just pure validation. Just all the years, all the hate, all the love — everything in between, bro. It just made so much sense in that moment. To be honest, man, I don't know what I was thinking. It was just pure exuberance and joy.' The Pacers get to feel that exuberance and joy for a night. And, if their coach has anything to say about it, maybe not even that much exuberance. Advertisement 'This is no time to be popping champagne,' said Carlisle, who will participate in his sixth NBA Finals — three as a player on the mid-1980s Boston Celtics, one as an assistant on Larry Bird's staff with the 2000 Pacers, and now two as a head coach after winning the 2011 title with the Dallas Mavericks. 'You know, when you get to this point of the season, you know, it's two teams and it's one goal. It becomes an all-or-nothing thing, and we understand the magnitude of the opponent.' That opponent — the Oklahoma City Thunder — has been nothing short of the best team in the NBA since the season's opening tip. They feature the MVP of the league in point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an All-Star running buddy in Jalen Williams, a fearsome two-headed monster on the inside in Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, and the NBA's most ferocious core of perimeter defenders. They're young, they're fast, they play with relentless intensity and apply incredible pressure. Sounds familiar. Advertisement 'I think it's a new blueprint for the league, man,' Turner said. 'I think the years of the superteams and stacking is just not as effective as it once was, you know? I mean, since I've been in the league, this NBA is very trendy. It just shifts. But the new trend now is just kind of what we're doing. OKC does the same thing. You know: young guys, get out and run, defend, and you know, use the power of friendship.' Whether that power will be enough to get the Pacers past the 68-win juggernaut they're about to face remains to be seen; they'll enter the series as serious underdogs. That's just fine by them, though. They're used to it. From last year's run to the Eastern Conference finals being dismissed as a fluke born of injuries to the teams along its path, to a brutal injury-marred 10-15 start to this season, to largely being viewed by national pundits as merely the foil to the Cavaliers and Knicks in this postseason, the Pacers have plenty of practice being overlooked. They've learned not to concern themselves with the paltry predictions of others; they're not afraid to dream bigger. 'I thought we just did a great job of staying together as a group and not worrying about outside noise,' Haliburton said. 'Internally, we had expectations to be here. This isn't a surprise to any of us, because of what we wanted to do. … I just thought we did a great job, like I mentioned earlier, just being as present as possible — not living in the past, not worrying about what's next. Just worrying about what's now.' Advertisement What's now, for Indiana, for the first time in a quarter-century, is the NBA Finals. They won't win it on the strength of overwhelming star power. Keep on maximizing the output of a group that's proven to be greater than the sum of its more-impressive-than-you-might-think parts, though — keep on playing Pacer basketball — and they've got a shot. 'You know, we're a team that is an ecosystem,' Carlisle said. 'We're very dependent on the collective ingredients for the whole team to function at its best.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Knicks vs. Pacers: Indiana stays true to itself to punch ticket to NBA Finals
INDIANAPOLIS — The temptation, after Tyrese Haliburton scored just eight points on seven shots in a disappointing Game 5 loss, was to call for the Indiana Pacers to adjust the sliders for Game 6 by overindexing on the kind of aggression that's easy to see in the box score — to counteract the New York Knicks' stepped-up ball pressure with hunted shots and hero ball. That's not what Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle called for, though. Advertisement 'As a team, we have to be aggressive, and we have to have a level of balance,' he said after Game 5. Which is to say: They needed to play Pacers basketball. The many-hands-make-light-work approach that has produced one of the NBA's most potent offenses. The insistence on pipe-bursting full-court ball pressure that has made the Pacers one of the NBA's most improved defenses. The commitment to running 12 deep — and to all 12 of 'em running, off makes and misses — that makes them tough to handle on the second night of a back-to-back in February, but that makes them an absolute nightmare to deal with every other night for two weeks in late May. It's a play style that elevates collective effect over individual impact — one that makes the Pacers different and special, has made them one of the best teams in the NBA for nearly six months … and now, has made them Eastern Conference champions. Eleven Pacers played before garbage time in Saturday's 125-108 Game 6 win, and seven of them scored in double figures. Andrew Nembhard changed the game with his defense on Knicks star Jalen Brunson, snatching six steals and getting his offensive game unstuck with 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting. Backup center Thomas Bryant, who'd seen his minutes dwindle in favor of Tony Bradley's superior ability to battle Knicks center Mitchell Robinson on the glass, got an opportunity to return to the fold with Bradley nursing an injured hip; he made the most of it, drilling three huge 3-pointers, blocking a shot and finishing with 11 points in 13 minutes. Obi Toppin provided his trademark irrepressible energy and above-the-rim finishing against the team that drafted and then traded him, chipping in 18 points, six rebounds and three blocks. (That last stat drew a surprised smile after the game from Haliburton, who chided Toppin for having 'all that athleticism, but just [not using] it on the defensive end sometimes.') Advertisement 'We've preached depth this whole year,' said Haliburton, who didn't need to dominate the ball or the shots to bounce back from his quiet Game 5, tallying 21 points, 13 assists, six rebounds, three steals and a block. 'We keep talking about it, and it's not just a word we use for fun. This is our identity, and this is who we are, and I thought we did a great job of utilizing that. We had many different people step up.' Including, of course, Indiana's superstars, who knew they had to turn in more forceful and productive outings back home in Game 6 than they had at Madison Square Garden in Game 5, and who answered the call. Pascal Siakam kept the offense afloat early, scoring 16 first-half points to stake Indiana to leads after the first and second quarters of a tight, tense elimination-game first half contested entirely within two possessions, with neither team able to gain more than six points of separation. He tilted the run of play in the Pacers' favor shortly after intermission, having a hand in three straight buckets — a pick-and-pop 3, a setup for an Aaron Nesmith 3 in transition and a transition leak-out and beautiful reverse finish through contact — that amounted to a 9-0 run to put Indiana up 13 early in the third and giving it the separation it needed to push the Knicks past their breaking point. Siakam would finish with a game-high 31 points, five rebounds, three assists, three blocks and a steal — another monster performance in an Eastern Conference finals where the Knicks never really found a great answer for him, where he made abundantly clear why Pacers brass felt he was the missing piece they had to go all out to get at the 2024 trade deadline and of which he was voted the Most Valuable Player. Advertisement 'It's cool,' Siakam said of the Larry Bird Trophy, which he brought with him to his postgame news conference. 'I didn't know they had a trophy for that, but I'm excited.' Not as excited, though, as he is to get another chance to play for a much bigger gold trophy, six years after he hoisted it with the 2019 Toronto Raptors. 'I was telling the guys — I mean, like, for me, you know, I got there when I was in Year 3, and I thought I would get back there a lot. And it didn't happen,' Siakam said. 'So it's a hell of an opportunity, and you don't know when you're gonna get it again. So I think we have to have a mindset of going out there and, at the end of the day, just giving everything we've got and knowing that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.' Yep, the Indiana Pacers are going to the NBA Finals. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Haliburton didn't get many good shots early, going without a field goal until he sprinted into a pull-up 3 four and a half minutes into the second quarter. But he kept reading the game, kept moving the ball and his body, and kept trusting that the deposits that he and the Pacers had put in over the course of the game and the series — all those miles they put on the Knicks' legs, all the mental and physical strain they'd put on New York's players with their frenetic, relentless motion — would eventually pay off. Advertisement And then, in the fourth quarter, the dam burst, with Haliburton slicing the Knicks' pick-and-roll coverage to ribbons, repeatedly getting into the paint to either finish for himself or set up a rolling Obi Toppin for a layup or dunk. Haliburton scored or assisted on 19 points in the fourth, capping it with a 32-foot bomb in the final minute to push the lead to 20 — a coup de grâce to pack up the Knicks and send them back to New York and to send the Pacers to the NBA Finals. 'I'm so proud of Tyrese, bro. For real, man,' Pacers center Myles Turner said. 'Y'all seen — you know, when it comes to being a superstar, bro, you got to take everything that comes with it. The highs and the lows, the good and the bad. And you know, from how the season started, to how he was getting trashed, and everybody was basically trying to turn their heads to him, he just kept his head down and kept working, man. Even going into this playoffs, the whole 'overrated' thing — I mean, obviously, we know that's dead now. There's not much you can say now.' Haliburton's playmaking and pace, Siakam's ceaseless sprinting and gap-filling offensive play, and the strength-in-numbers approach carried the offense. What killed the Knicks, though, was Indiana repeatedly forcing them into costly mistakes — 17 turnovers leading to 34 Pacer points, as the team's season-long commitment to cranking up the tempo and maintaining vise-grip pressure eventually claimed yet another victim. Advertisement 'Our defense is something we've been working on steadfastly for over a year and a half,' Carlisle said. 'I mean, really. The year started last year with, really, a different set of rules. We were playing small and even faster. It wasn't a team that had great defenders. But we've gotten better defenders, we've gotten bigger, we got Pascal, and the guys co-signed on the importance of defense, and everybody has participated in the growth.' For Turner, the growth started in the summer of 2015, when he came to Indiana as a reedy 19-year-old. A decade full of ups, downs, trade rumors, frontcourt partners and frustrations later, the longest-tenured Pacer is on his way to his first NBA Finals. 'When the buzzer was sounding, it was just … nothing but joy, man,' Turner said. 'Just pure excitement. Just pure validation. Just all the years, all the hate, all the love — everything in between, bro. It just made so much sense in that moment. To be honest, man, I don't know what I was thinking. It was just pure exuberance and joy.' The Pacers get to feel that exuberance and joy for a night. And, if their coach has anything to say about it, maybe not even that much exuberance. Advertisement 'This is no time to be popping champagne,' said Carlisle, who will participate in his sixth NBA Finals — three as a player on the mid-1980s Boston Celtics, one as an assistant on Larry Bird's staff with the 2000 Pacers, and now two as a head coach after winning the 2011 title with the Dallas Mavericks. 'You know, when you get to this point of the season, you know, it's two teams and it's one goal. It becomes an all-or-nothing thing, and we understand the magnitude of the opponent.' That opponent — the Oklahoma City Thunder — has been nothing short of the best team in the NBA since the season's opening tip. They feature the MVP of the league in point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an All-Star running buddy in Jalen Williams, a fearsome two-headed monster on the inside in Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, and the NBA's most ferocious core of perimeter defenders. They're young, they're fast, they play with relentless intensity and apply incredible pressure. Sounds familiar. Advertisement 'I think it's a new blueprint for the league, man,' Turner said. 'I think the years of the superteams and stacking is just not as effective as it once was, you know? I mean, since I've been in the league, this NBA is very trendy. It just shifts. But the new trend now is just kind of what we're doing. OKC does the same thing. You know: young guys, get out and run, defend, and you know, use the power of friendship.' Whether that power will be enough to get the Pacers past the 68-win juggernaut they're about to face remains to be seen; they'll enter the series as serious underdogs. That's just fine by them, though. They're used to it. From last year's run to the Eastern Conference finals being dismissed as a fluke born of injuries to the teams along its path, to a brutal injury-marred 10-15 start to this season, to largely being viewed by national pundits as merely the foil to the Cavaliers and Knicks in this postseason, the Pacers have plenty of practice being overlooked. They've learned not to concern themselves with the paltry predictions of others; they're not afraid to dream bigger. 'I thought we just did a great job of staying together as a group and not worrying about outside noise,' Haliburton said. 'Internally, we had expectations to be here. This isn't a surprise to any of us, because of what we wanted to do … I just thought we did a great job, like I mentioned earlier, just being as present as possible — not living in the past, not worrying about what's next. Just worrying about what's now.' Advertisement What's now, for Indiana, for the first time in a quarter-century, is the NBA Finals. They won't win it on the strength of overwhelming star power. Keep on maximizing the output of a group that's proven to be greater than the sum of its more-impressive-than-you-might-think parts, though — keep on playing Pacer basketball — and they've got a shot. 'You know, we're a team that is an ecosystem,' Carlisle said. 'We're very dependent on the collective ingredients for the whole team to function at its best.'
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Buy Indiana Pacers NBA Finals Merchandise: Conference Champions Hats, T-Shirts, Gear
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Indiana Pacers have punched their ticket to the NBA Finals after defeating the New York Knicks in six games, claiming the 2024-25 Eastern Conference title, and you can get all of your NBA Finals gear now. Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers after the Pacers celebrates with teammates after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in game two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Rocket Arena on May 06, 2025, in Cleveland,... Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers after the Pacers celebrates with teammates after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in game two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Rocket Arena on May 06, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Pacers defeated the Cavaliers 120-119. MoreAfter a 50-32 record and a fourth-place finish in the East during the regular season, the Pacers have turned it on during the postseason, knocking out the Bucks, Cavaliers, and Knicks. Next up is the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, where one of the teams will secure its first NBA title in franchise history. The only other time Indiana made it to the final round was in 2000, when they fell to the Lakers in six games. Tyrese Haliburton has turned himself into a bona fide star during these playoffs, and now he will get the opportunity to put his talent on display on the biggest stage in basketball. He will now look to win his first NBA championship after averaging 21 points, 10.5 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game in the conference finals. Click on any of the images or links to order your gear now. Place your order before it is too late, as these will be in high demand. Fanatics has you covered with officially licensed Indiana Pacers NBA Finals Merchandise. NBA Indiana Pacers New Era 2025 Eastern Conference Champions Locker Room 9FIFTY Snapback Hat - Charcoal/Black Indiana Pacers New Era 2025 Eastern Conference Champions Locker Room 9FIFTY Snapback Hat - Charcoal/Black Fanatics Buy Indiana Pacers NBA Finals Gear NBA Indiana Pacers Fanatics 2025 Eastern Conference Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Steel Indiana Pacers Fanatics 2025 Eastern Conference Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Steel Fanatics Buy Indiana Pacers NBA Finals Gear NBA Tyrese Haliburton Indiana Pacers Nike Unisex 2025 NBA Finals Swingman Jersey - Icon Edition - Navy Tyrese Haliburton Indiana Pacers Nike Unisex 2025 NBA Finals Swingman Jersey - Icon Edition - Navy Fanatics Buy Indiana Pacers NBA Finals Gear NBA Indiana Pacers Fanatics 2025 Eastern Conference Champions Roster Buzzer Beater T-Shirt - Black Indiana Pacers Fanatics 2025 Eastern Conference Champions Roster Buzzer Beater T-Shirt - Black Fanatics Buy Indiana Pacers NBA Finals Gear NBA Indiana Pacers New Era 2025 NBA Finals Side Patch Two-Tone 9FIFTY Snapback Hat - Navy/Gold Indiana Pacers New Era 2025 NBA Finals Side Patch Two-Tone 9FIFTY Snapback Hat - Navy/Gold Buy Indiana Pacers NBA Finals Gear If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Smart drafting and strategic player development shaped core of the Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers celebrate the win after game 7 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs (Credit: Getty Image) The Florida Panthers' rise to the top of the Eastern Conference did not happen overnight It started with foundational draft picks. Notably Aleksander Barkov in 2013 and Aaron Ekblad in 2014. As both players became cornerstones, evolving into leaders on and off the ice. Also, Anton Lundell and Mackie Samoskevich, selected in 2020 and 2021 respectively, added fresh talent and depth to the lineup. These homegrown players reflect the team's strong development pipeline. Impact trades and experienced signings, transformed the roster The Florida Panthers are the 2023-2024 Eastern Conference Champions! While the draft laid the foundation, Florida's front office made critical trades. The signings to complete the picture. Matthew Tkachuk, acquired in a blockbuster deal with Calgary in 2022. This added elite offensive firepower. Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart were also key acquisitions who now play central roles in the team's offensive structure. Deadline additions like Brad Marchand and Nico Sturm brought in proven playoff experience. In total, seven playoff contributors were added via trade and eleven more through free agency. Notably, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. He signed in 2019, remains a key figure in net. Veteran coaching and front office, leadership delivered results The Florida Panthers celebrate the win after game 7 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs (Credit: Getty Image) Behind the bench, Paul Maurice provided consistency and structure. Since his hiring in 2022, his calm demeanor and decades of coaching experience. This helped guide the Panthers through tight playoff battles, also assistant coaches like Tuomo Ruutu and Jamie Kompon added layers of expertise. Especially in special teams and player development. General manager Bill Zito has been the architect of this new era. Since taking over in 2020, Zito's smart roster moves, contract management, and long-term planning have turned Florida into a perennial contender. His ability to identify undervalued players, manage cap space, and build a culture of winning has been central to the Panthers' sustained success. Read more: Pyotr Kochetkov's life and personal achievements The Florida Panthers' Eastern Conference title is no accident, it's the result of methodical roster building, smart scouting. And a leadership group committed to long-term success, as they prepare for another Stanley Cup Final. Most of their journey offers a clear example of how an NHL team can be built the right way.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kendrick Perkins Picks Winner of Knicks-Pacers Series Without Hesitation
The New York Knicks grabbed headlines on Friday night after they took down the defending champions Boston Celtics, in Game 6 of their second-round NBA playoffs series, 119-81. The Knicks closed out the series with a big win at Madison Square Garden to book their spot in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, who have been waiting in the wings after they eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. Advertisement ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins shared his thoughts on the upcoming Knicks-Pacers series, and the outspoken sportscaster had no hesitation as he predicted the next Eastern Conference Champions. "I got Knicks in seven," Perkins declared. "Perfect opportunity for the New York Knicks to get their lick back. Hell, the Pacers took – hell, the Knicks took the Pacers to seven games last year, and Jalen Brunson, I believe, had a, what, fractured thumb. You had Josh Hart. He had an abdominal strain. You had O. G. Ananobi. He was dealing with a hamstring issue. Perkins pointed out that last season, the Knicks were able to push the Pacers to seven games in their second-round series despite injuries to Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby. According to Perkins, the fact that this trio is now healthy, coupled with the addition of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges to the roster, makes New York a very formidable threat to Indiana. New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Penner-USA TODAY Sports "I believe this Knicks team is going to be ready for the Pacers," he continued, "I'm not underestimating the Pacers. They play agenda-free basketball. They have a hell of a coach in Rick Carlisle." Advertisement Perkins heaped praise on Indiana superstar Tyrese Haliburton and his talents, but the ESPN analyst is adamant that Haliburton is not at the same level as Brunson. "I think Big Body Brunson, along with Josh Hart's leadership, is going to take this Knicks team to the NBA Finals. It's going to go seven games. It's going to be a brawl for it all. But I got the Knicks winning this series in seven," Perkins shared his projection. Game 1 in MSG will be on Wednesday, and if Perkins' prediction turns out to be correct, then the fans can look forward to a long series ahead. Related: NBA Sends Message to Jaylen Brown After Celtics Star Makes History vs. Knicks
