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Knicks vs. Pacers: Our prediction for this Eastern Conference semifinals series

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8 months ago

May 6, 2024

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Knicks vs. Pacers: Our prediction for this Eastern Conference semifinals series

When talking about the Knicks and Pacers meeting in the postseason, there’s no introduction needed.

From 1993 to 2000, these two Eastern Conference organizations faced off in the playoffs six times, including three times in the conference finals with the Knicks moving on to the NBA Finals on two of those occasions.

The last time these two franchises went head-to-head in the postseason was back in the 2013 conference semifinals, with the Pacers winning that series in six games.

With a spot up for grabs in the final four, here’s our analysis and prediction for the Knicks-Pacers series and who will ultimately advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

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Offensive advantage: Pacers

There’s no denying these two teams play completely different styles of basketball.

When it comes to offense, the Pacers were clearly better in that category. Indiana led the NBA with 123.3 points per game (PPG) in the regular season and haven’t slowed down in the playoffs — averaging 113 PPG in the first round — good for second best behind only the Minnesota Timberwolves.

They’re led by a trio of Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner, all who scored 16 PPG or more this season and continue to be the focal points so far this postseason.

In their four wins against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers scored 120 or more points in each of them and averaged 123 PPG.

Defensive advantage: Knicks

The other side of the court is clearly dominated by the Knicks.

New York was arguably the best defensive unit in the entire regular season.

In three of their four wins versus the Sixers in the first round, the Knicks allowed more than 104 points just once — which didn’t come until Game 6.

Dating back to the regular season, the Knicks surrendered the second-fewest points (108.2 PPG), behind only the Minnesota Timberwolves.

New York has proven under head coach Tom Thibodeau that he can put together a unit that has a stranglehold even against the best offenses in the NBA.

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Knicks vs. Pacers series prediction

In the regular season, the Pacers took two of three games, including putting up 125 and 140 points respectively in those two matchups.

In the Knicks’ lone win on Feb. 1, they limited Indiana to 105 points and held the aforementioned Pacers’ trio (Haliburton, Siakam and Turner) to just 45 total points between the three of them.

The one difference maker in this series could be O.G. Anunoby. New York did not have the defensive minded first guard during any of the three matchups between these two franchises in the regular season.

This series will ultimately come down to can the Pacers sustain enough offensive success over a seven-game series against their biggest defensive challenge so far?

The answer for that is no. The Knicks will ultimately be able to limit this high-powered Indiana offense just enough, moving on to their first conference final appearance in 24 years.