The Knicks and Indiana Pacers played Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden last night in a matchup unexpected by those who closely follow the NBA. The Knicks are the East’s No. 3 and the Pacers the No. 4 seed. Both are worthy of where they find themselves with Game 2 tomorrow, May 23, back at the Garden.
The Knicks knocked off the No. 6 seed Pistons in the opening round 4-2 before a stunning 4-2 series win over the Boston Celtics, the No. 2 seed and last year’s league champion, in the conference semifinals. The Pacers quickly got rid of the No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 in the first round and then made fast work of the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1.
Now the Knicks and Pacers, which met in the East semifinals last season with the Pacers winning 4-3, defeating an injury depleted Knicks squad 130-109 in Game 7, do it again. The circumstances are different as both teams began this year’s series with all their key players healthy. Variables and unknowns may ultimately decide which team moves on to the finals as they seemingly, more often, wedge or bull their way into the best-of-seven series.
The Knicks haven’t made it to the Finals since 1999, and the Pacers’ last appearance was a year later in 2000. Both lost. The Knicks to the San Antonio Spurs, and the Pacers to the Los Angeles Lakers. The irony and shared history is that they played each other in the Eastern Conference Finals in those years. This season marks the fourth time they are meeting in the conference finals.
A contrast in styles may be the most compelling aspect of this year’s series, the ninth time the Knicks and Pacers have met in the postseason. It could also be the decisive factor. The Pacers go nine deep and employ a fast-paced, open-court system led by point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who has laid to rest the notion he is not a star. The 6-5 Haliburton has been sensational in the playoffs, going into last night for a Pacers group, directed by head coach Rick Carlisle whose resume includes guiding the Dallas Mavericks to the 2011 NBA title.
Haliburton’s counterpart, Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, has rightfully been anointed a superstar this season, and possesses the physical tools and mental makeup to carry the Knicks to the franchise’s first league championship since 1973. He operates an offense that runs calculatively, seeks to play with a swift pace, but applies a more methodical offensive system than Indiana.
The Knicks essentially have a seven-man rotation, with valuable center Mitchell Robinson and guard Miles “Deuce” McBride as their primary reserves. Tom Thibodeau, the architect of the Boston Celtics’ defense as an assistant under Doc Rivers when the Celtics were champions in 2008, is trying to win another one, this time as head coach of the Knicks.
The pick here is the Knicks in seven.