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The Definitive Pacers vs. Knicks ECF Preview
🕑 Added 2025-05-19 11:27:32 +0000 UTCBreaking down the East Finals in a cross-over episode with Knicks Film School
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
To preview the latest installment of Pacers versus Knicks, Samson Folk and I joined DJ Zullo and Benjy Ritholtz of Knicks Film School fame to discuss what's changed in the match-up from an Xs and Os perspective. To keep everything fair and balanced between both sides, each of us presented a foundational strategy question to the group in a roundtable format, while also layering in other topics and observations with both an inside and outside perspective throughout the conversation.
Special thanks to Knicks Film School (Subscribe!) for hosting the cross-over. You won't find a more detailed breakdown of this series. Enjoy!
Here are the relevant timestamps:
0:00 - Introductions
3:22 - Should Aaron Nesmith guard Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns?
15:49 - Can the Knicks counter for Indiana's full-court pressure and depth while playing a seven-man rotation?
21:18 - How effective can the double-big lineup of Towns-Mitchell be against the Pacers? + the many potential impacts of offensive rebounding for New York
30:39 - What counters do the Knicks have against post double teams, whether from the top or bottom against Towns?
32:52 - Who is going to defend Tyrese Haliburton for the Knicks and what pick-and-roll coverage will be most effective, if any?
39:11 - Would there be any advantages to cross-matching O.G. Anunoby onto Myles Turner? Would the Knicks even try that? (Also, thoughts on New York's struggles to contain ghost screens and stack actions as a team without much experience switching)
44:06 - Will there be a change of "Hart" with Josh Hart in the starting lineup?
56:17 - Who is the better match-up for Haliburton: Bridges or Anunoby?
1:03:43 - Final thoughts and (yes) predictions
Comments
Martin Hoagland
This was a great listen, despite the length but well worth the level of detail and depth and fantastic to hear from the other side. A Knicks Expert picking the Pacers!? Great preview for the match up and great things to look for!
Caitlin Cooper
Only 33 percent of his threes have been heavily contested. When he makes shots, they are generally wide open. Roaming from Hart and Achiuwa with Siakam was a critical turning point in the series against the Knicks last season.
Isaiah Fasoldt
Love this! Getting me hyped for the series. One question: is Josh Hart really that bad of a shooter? He's a career 34% shooter and is shooting 42% this playoffs, admittedly on a small sample size. In my book, that makes him an average-ish shooter. Does he really warrant treating like Tony Allen?
