Back to the ECF: The New York Knicks Seek Revenge on the Indiana Pacers After 25 Years

The New York Knicks return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000: a 25-year wait for a storied rivalry against the Indiana Pacers for their epic seventh ECF showdown.

Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton

Twenty-five years after their last Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2000, the New York Knicks have finally clawed their way back. Having won most of their regular-season matchups against the Indiana Pacers (2-1), the Knicks now have the opportunity to avenge their elimination in last year’s postseason during Round 2 after a crushing Game 7 defeat (109-130). In that series, the Knicks were hindered by a series of injuries, most notably star player Jalen Brunson, who was battling a left-hand fracture.

This time, Brunson is fully healthy, and with new additions like Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and a healthy Mitchell Robinson, who was sidelined after Game 1 of last year’s series due to a fractured right foot, the Knicks are poised for a different outcome. Josh Hart, who exited Game 6 last year due to abdominal soreness, is also healthy, as is OG Anunoby, who left Game 2 of last year’s series with a strained left hamstring while putting up a dominant performance.

After dismantling Boston in a six-game thriller (119-81), the 51-31 Knicks carry a surge of belief into the Eastern Conference Finals against the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers (50-32). Indiana punched its ticket by grinding out a decisive Game 5 win over Cleveland this spring, fueled by Tyrese Haliburton’s playmaking and Myles Turner’s interior presence. This storied rivalry now reaches its crescendo. Let’s break down the positional matchups, bench battles, and tactical tweaks New York needs to punch its ticket to the NBA Finals.

Guard vs. Guard: Brunson vs. Haliburton

Jalen Brunson has been the engine of New York’s offense, coupling crafty mid-range pull-ups with fearless drives to the rim. He thrives in pick-and-rolls, using his lightning-quick first step to split defenders and finish with floaters or pull-up jumpers. He's also electric from beyond the arc and currently averages the fourth-most made points (29.4) in the league during the playoffs this season, according to ESPN. Yet Indiana’s length and aggressive hedges can bait him into contested jumpers or rushed passes. To counter, Brunson must remain patient, using jab steps to draw help before kicking to open shooters, and trust his teammates rather than forcing isolation looks.

As for Tyrese Haliburton, he orchestrates with preternatural vision and spacing gravity. He averaged 35 points and 14 assists in a 132-121 blowout in the second regular season game against the Knicks on November 10, 2024, consistently delivering pinpoint passes to cutting bigs. As you can see, in addition to averaging 18.6 points, he currently dishes out 9.2 assists per game. Yet his rhythm snaps under physical on-ball pressure. Although the Knicks lost in a heartbreaking Game 7 (3-4) in last year’s postseason against Indiana, active traps from Miles McBride and Josh Hart forced Haliburton into uncharacteristic turnovers in the series.

New York’s goal is to switch smartly on screening actions so Haliburton can’t glide to the rim or find shooters with ease.

Big Men Clash: Towns & Robinson vs. Siakam & Turner

Karl-Anthony Towns stretches defenses as a bona fide stretch five, armed with a 42% three-point clip from the regular season. His soft touch around the rim, spin-move arsenal, and back-to-the-basket fadeaways create matchup nightmares. Defensively, Towns can be slow on weak-side rotations and his discipline sometimes lapses, leading to over-help on cutters and back-door layups. He also struggles to contain physical drop defenders and his pick-and-pop coverages can yield too many uncontested mid-ranges. Towns has also battled foul trouble this postseason, averaging 4.4 fouls per game against both Boston and Detroit.

Mitchell Robinson didn’t play in any of the New York-Indiana regular-season games this year due to recovering from an ankle injury, but his playoff form has been stellar: he’s averaged seven blocks per game and has altered numerous other shots by either contesting or deflecting them. His explosive lob finishes and alley-oop chemistry have recently energized the Knicks, though his free-throw woes linger, he’s made just 18 of 44 attempts this postseason. Encouragingly though, after tweaking his shooting form, he went a perfect six-for-six at the line in Game 5 against Boston when they baited him into taking free throws, suggesting he could shoot better from the line moving forward. Offensively, Robinson’s mid-range game is virtually nonexistent, but he makes up for it with his excellent ability to tip in putback points, a skill he’s showcased frequently during this postseason.

On the other side, Pascal Siakam adds another dimension. His combination of post-up footwork, face-up shooting, and improved pick-and-roll play make him a matchup problem. He excels at drawing double teams and finding cutters, yet his lateral quickness can be exposed in switch scenarios and his perimeter defense sometimes falters when asked to chase smaller guards.

Myles Turner is one of the league’s elite rim protectors. His timing on contests and tenacity on the offensive glass give Indiana extra possessions. He changes shots above the rim, cleans the defensive glass, and anchors their drop-coverage schemes. He can also forge his way offensively through three-pointers, reaching a career-high of 39.6% from beyond the arc during the regular season. Yet Turner can struggle in pick-and-pop coverages when forced to chase shooters, and he sometimes gambles too eagerly for blocks, leading to offensive rebounds for opponents.

Wings & Glue: Bridges, Anunoby, Hart vs. Nembhard, Mathurin & Nesmith

Mikal Bridges has been clutch in consecutive fourth quarters this postseason, using his elite defense to harass players like six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum, a skill that translates well against guards like Haliburton, who himself has been crisply clutch against Milwaukee and Cleveland. Bridges also boasts a dependable mid-range game that never disappoints. However, he shot just 32.3% from three during the Boston series, a red flag New York must fix. He needs to hit open threes consistently throughout the game, attack the rim without hesitation, and tighten his catch-and-shoot mechanics to punish closeouts, rather than just showing up in crunch time.

OG Anunoby is New York’s Swiss-Army defender, capable of switching onto any perimeter threat while still drilling corner threes. Yet when Anunoby doesn't shoot well from the field, like in Game 5 vs. Boston (one-for-12), Game 3 vs. Boston (one-for-six), and Game 4 vs. Detroit (three-for-13), he becomes a significant liability, hurting the Knicks by missing open shots and potentially disrupting their momentum. Thus, his greatest weakness is that when his shots aren't falling, he simply doesn’t provide offense for the Knicks, leaving the team without a contributor of his caliber.

Josh Hart brings unmatched energy and hustle, crashing the offensive glass and pushing the break in transition. His quick hands generate steals, and his mid-range pull-up has been reliable this postseason. Yet Hart’s three-point shot can be streaky, and he sometimes over-extends on defense, leading to blown rotations and open-corner threes for opponents. He also has a tendency to foul three-point shooters, and that can be costly especially if it happens in closing minutes.

On the other hand, Indiana's Andrew Nembhard uses his cutting instincts to exploit gaps and step-out mid-range pull-ups to keep defenders on their toes. He’s also shown solid efficiency from the field and beyond the arc, with his best example being Game 1 against Cleveland, where he scored 23 points on five-of-six shooting from three and added six assists. However, when pressured, he can rush and settle for contested floaters, and his lean frame (six-foot-four) makes him vulnerable to contact in traffic.

In addition, Bennedict Mathurin once exploded with 38 points (seven triples) in the second game of the regular season against the Knicks on November 10, 2024, showcasing his lightning release and fearless off-dribble shooting. He uses quick jab steps to create space and finishes in transition with authority. Yet his decision-making under duress can be erratic, he occasionally forces tough shots rather than kicking to open teammates, and his defense can lack focus, especially off the ball.

And let's not forget Aaron Nesmith, who provides catch-and-shoot gravity from deep, averaging a career-best of 43.1% from three during this 2024-25 regular season. His high-release shot forces defenders to stay close, even when the Pacers clear space. However, his defensive engagement can waver, allowing quicker wings to blow by him in transition, and his inability to create off the dribble limits his offensive versatility.

Reserves’ Showcase: Matching Firepower & Frailties

New York’s reserves during the postseason have mainly featured Miles McBride, Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet, and Precious Achiuwa. Looking at McBride, he has clearly (and happily for Knicks' fans) stepped up in Round 2, averaging eight points per game and hitting 12 threes against Boston after averaging 4.6 points and five three-pointers in Round 1 against Detroit. His on-ball pressure creates momentum swings, though his inconsistent shot selection can occasionally leave the offense stagnant when he over-dribbles.

As for Payne, he erupted for 14 points in Game 1 against Detroit but has been largely invisible since, scoring zero points in six of 12 playoff games and committing quick fouls that limit his floor time. His veteran poise helps manage the second unit, but his tendency to pick up fouls early diminishes his impact.

Now when looking at Shamet, he has yet to find his playoff rhythm: his best (and I say 'best' very lightly and sadly) performance remains two points in Game 1 vs. Detroit, with just one point in Boston’s Game 5 mop-up minutes (YIKES!). When subbed in, he needs to contribute offensively, as he did late in the regular season when he was red-hot, or he risks continuing to be a non-factor.

And of course, Precious Achiuwa, who can offer energy and defensive versatility when he's on, which could help boost the Knicks' second unit if this becomes the norm for him. His ability to switch on pick-and-rolls and crash the glass gives the bench a lift. However, he’s seen limited minutes off the bench in Games 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 against the Celtics, failing to score in all but two appearances: he had six points in six impactful minutes during Game 3 despite New York losing 93-115, and another six points in the fourth quarter of Game 6 during garbage time after the Knicks had already blown out Boston.

When observing Indiana’s reserves, they typically feature Obi Toppin, who has thrived by cutting to the basket and finishing lobs with renewed confidence after his underwhelming stint in New York. However, his perimeter defense remains a concern, as he can struggle with rotations and defending on the perimeter. Then there’s the crafty T.J. McConnell, known for his effective mid-range shooting and ability to slip into creases for floaters; however, his limited three-point shooting can impact floor spacing when he’s on the court. Additionally, Aaron Nesmith, who I’ve already mentioned earlier as a three-point threat, still struggles defensively at times, with lapses in focus that allow quicker wings like Bridges to blow by him in transition. Therefore, New York’s bench must match Indiana’s punch by sustaining defensive intensity and converting easy paint buckets in transition.

Strategic Adjustments: Seizing the Paint & Pace

1. Switch Coverage on Haliburton’s Screens: Tight communication on every pick-and-roll forces Haliburton into contested jumpers, limiting his ability to take quick three-pointers or execute smooth drive-and-kick actions.

2. Rotations to Stifle Mathurin: Bridges and Anunoby must rotate swiftly to his corners, contesting every three before he gets into his rhythm.

3. Exploit Turner’s Perimeter Mobility: Use high pick-and-rolls with Brunson and Towns to pull Turner away from the rim, then attack downhill into the vacated paint or kick out to spot-up shooters before the Pacers' help can recover.

4. Push the Break Early: After stops, outlet the ball directly to hot-handed players. It doesn't have to be specifically Brunson, but any Knicks player who’s in a rhythm. Push the break, as Indiana’s focus on glass-chasing often leaves them trailing early.

5. Clarify Bench Responsibilities: McBride keeps the energy high with his impeccable three-point shooting and elite defense, Payne needs to attack off the catch and be more careful in general to avoid foul trouble, and Shamet must return to being an instant corner-three threat when subbed in.

   
   

Final Thoughts on the Knicks-Pacers ECF Matchup:

Having prevailed over Boston in six hard-fought games, the Knicks enter the Eastern Conference Finals brimming with confidence, yet fully aware of the challenge posed by a Pacers squad led by Haliburton’s playmaking and Turner’s rim protection. This series will hinge on Brunson’s ability to break down Indiana’s physical pick-and-roll defense and find open shooters, while Towns must rise to the challenge against Turner’s shot-blocking presence and Siakam’s versatile scoring. Robinson’s elite shot-blocking in the paint, combined with Nembhard’s cutter-and-kick play, will be crucial in controlling second-chance points. On the perimeter, Bridges and Anunoby must maintain their two-way excellence, contesting Mathurin’s catch-and-shoot opportunities and Nesmith’s deep attempts. In addition to this, Josh Hart’s relentless hustle, especially on the boards, will be crucial in providing toughness and securing critical possessions for the Knicks. Bench production will be critical. McBride must remain consistent, while Payne’s playmaking, Shamet’s corner-three threat, and Achiuwa’s defensive ability must return to form to provide vital relief when the starters rest.

By communicating sharply on screens, taking advantage of open threes, driving to the paint when given the opportunity, attacking the free-throw line, and pushing the break after stops, New York can implement these strategic tweaks needed to combat Indiana’s balanced attack. This Eastern Conference Finals matchup tests the Knicks’ resilience, adaptability, and depth. If they execute these adjustments with composure, New York will finally be able to end their long drought and set the stage for a Finals run.

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