The Definitive Pacers vs Knicks Semi-Finals Preview

By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper

For the first time in a decade, the Indiana Pacers have advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Also, for the first time in over a decade, they're playing the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs. As such, in order to breakdown the latest installment of the once long-standing rivalry, Benjy Ritholtz of Knicks Film School agreed to stop by along with Samson Folk to discuss the in and outs of two teams with completely different identifies, spearheaded by two guards with completely different playstyles.

For more on the battle of grace versus grime and the impact of the wings that were acquired in midseason trades from the Raptors, here are the relevant timestamps:

0:00 - Introductions

1:03 - Benjy's impression of Obi Toppin's performance in Game 6

5:16 - The art of rejection

10:40 - Jalen Brunson's relentlessness

17:05 - Providing a timeline of the coverages the Pacers have tried against Brunson

20:40 - Where should the help come from?

25:16 - The potential gravitational waves of blitzing on the glass

30:43 - The increase in off-ball actions and movement for the Knicks

32:44 - Winning the possession war

39:32 - Slowing Brunson down on offense by attacking him on defense

42:20 - Tyrese Haliburton's skill for testing the weak-side helper

43:42 - The Knicks as hunters

45:43 - Will Precious Achiuwa factor as a switch big?

48:15 - The offensive force of T.J. McConnell

50:18 - Tyrese's amazing self alley-oop jump pass

52:47 - Will O.G. Anunoby guard Tyrese or Siakam?

55:26 - Will the Knicks cross-match against Myles Turner?

57:56 - New York's troubles double-teaming the post

1:00:43 - The ability of both teams to play five-out

1:06:39 - Can the shorter rotation of the Knicks apply full-court pressure against Tyrese?

1:09:43 - Is there still extra juice to Pacers-Knicks as a match-up?

1:15:33 - Thank you and Goodbye