The New York Knicks are taking on the Pacers in hostile territory, Indiana. What’s at stake for the teams? For the Indiana Pacers, they have a chance to do something this franchise hasn’t done since 2000: make the NBA Finals. As for the Knicks, it’s a chance to allow them to do what many have failed to do: successfully make a 3-1 series comeback. Let’s jump straight into the teams and see who walks away in Game Six with a win!
Pacers Playing with Pace
The Pacers have played their style all season long, fast. This team plays as if the shot clock is seven seconds as opposed to 24 seconds. Indy gets the ball up the court in a hurry. Their movement off the ball has given teams issues all season long. It reminds me a little, not to the same extent, but of what Golden State has done for years. Run their players off of flair screens to set up open shots off the ball and perfectly timed backdoor cuts.
However, there is one player who must show up and perform if the Pacers want to close out this series tonight. Tyrese Haliburton is the key to this Pacers offense. The ship begins and ends with his ability to be the floor general he has shown to be. In Game Five, he was dreadful. Haliburton only scored eight points on a very inefficient 2/8 from the floor. He doesn’t have to be as masterful as he was in Game Four, but he can’t be in single digits again and expect a win.
Knicks’ Aggressiveness
The key for the Knicks to force a Game Seven back at MSG will be how aggressively their stars start the game. In Game Five, Jalen Brunson came out on fire with 14 points on 6/9 shooting in the first quarter. His co-star, Karl-Anthony Towns, was excellent in the second quarter, scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds on a very efficient 5/7 shooting. It was great to see those two dominate the first half.
Their aggressiveness doesn’t have to be purely on the offensive end of the court. Defensively, they forced 20 turnovers last game, a series high for the Pacers. New York must take control of this game early and often on the defensive end of the court to regain the series lead at Madison Square Garden (MSG). If the Knicks can limit the damage the Pacers do with solid transition defense and force turnovers due to miscues, I love their chances tonight.
Who Wins Game Six??
The X-factor to this game will be the Pacers’ and the Knicks’ “others.” Over the past three games, the Knicks’ bench has outperformed the Pacers’ bench, except for Bennedict Mathurin. Despite coach Thibs being reluctant to play deeper into his bench, New York’s “others” have shown flashes over the last three games. Moving Josh Hart out of the starting rotation has given this team a spark off the bench, an exhale, if you will, that they needed.
This game is going to be a close one. There will be momentum swings on both sides. Both teams are capable of exploding for 43 or more points in any given quarter. However, I will be taking the New York Knicks in Game Six and forcing the two greatest words in all of sports—Game Seven. I believe the dynamic duo of KAT and Brunson will show up as they did in Game Five.
Final Thoughts
This series has been electric, from all-time performances to 20-point comebacks. When this matchup was made, I expected a 6-7 game battle, just like last season. The Pacers took down the Knicks in Game Seven on the road last season, and I think we are headed back to a Game Seven at Madison Square Garden! Can Jalen Brunson and the Knicks extend their season, or will Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers advance to the Finals for the first time in 25 years?
