Kind of appropriate that we meet Indiana in the ECF after last year's injury ridden defeat. It's going to be a great, tough series with lots of drama - count on it. Indiana (along with Miami) one of Knicks biggest rivals since Jordan's Bulls. And Hali probably best villain after Trae Young.
Let's come out strong! Go Knicks!
Martin, Panos is bending time and space...again. Trying to move the ECF two weeks into the past.
Its a weird feeling seeing the Knicks in the ECF after all these years.
We closed out the Detroit series in part because of Hart's triple double. He effectively played point forward, which Boston wasnt ready for.
Mitch has been great in the postseason, but he took his D to another level in that closeout game. Thats what we need to see in this series vs. the Pacers. Knicks rising to the occasion.
I'm trying not to be overconfident but I just look at all these matchups and I just see us stomping these guys. They are good and deep and well coached but keep taking advantage of injured teams. The Celtics utterly destroyed them last year. The same 7 guys we just took down (KP didnt play in that series).
I think the biggest thing for the Knicks is this will be the softest defense we have seen in the playoffs so far. They dont have a rangy wing to shadow Brunson, they dont have an answer for KAT. There is no player on the Knicks you can hide a weak defender on. Josh and Mikal attack and OG's bully ball is getting better all the time.
Anxious and excited 
The hicks are a good team and this will not be easy. But if Mitch and OG and rest of the top 7 stays healthy, we should win this.
This is going to sound stupid, but this is bigger to me than the finals. Really want to stomp these guys.
Panos wrote:This is going to sound stupid, but this is bigger to me than the finals. Really want to stomp these guys.
Knicks were a 2nd round team. So completing the Boston upset ensures this was a successful season for all expectations. Getting the finals is huge. OKC is a huge problem. Min isnt much easier.
Winning this series will be really some story book shit. Please boys get his done
I think it's going to come down to the refs.
They let Indy set moving screen after moving screen last year and ride Brunson up the court. Hopefully they don't allow TJ, Neismith, Mathurin to do the same this series. Would really like to see Thibs allow someone else to bring the ball up, Hart, Bridges so Brunson isn't getting all that extra contact.
Series is all on KAT. He needs to get his ass in the post and dominate. No fadeaways, be agreesive and no stupid fouls.
From god to Adam Silver to Magic straight to us:
fishmike wrote:I'm trying not to be overconfident but I just look at all these matchups and I just see us stomping these guys. They are good and deep and well coached but keep taking advantage of injured teams. The Celtics utterly destroyed them last year. The same 7 guys we just took down (KP didnt play in that series).I think the biggest thing for the Knicks is this will be the softest defense we have seen in the playoffs so far. They dont have a rangy wing to shadow Brunson, they dont have an answer for KAT. There is no player on the Knicks you can hide a weak defender on. Josh and Mikal attack and OG's bully ball is getting better all the time.
Anxious and excited
I agree and I don't think I'm being a homer. Knicks match up very well here, our talent trumps theirs on offense and our guys should all have an easier time scoring than they did the last couple series. They have no answer for Towns, they are gonna have to leave one of our wings with a mismatch all series long. We have guys who will get the stops when the game slows down late in crunch time.
The key is containing them as a complete unit, they play well above the sum of their parts. But it's hard not to feel good about Mikal on Hali and OG on Siakam. We can also throw Mikal at McConnell who we had no answer for last year. I just think this is a great matchup for us, and probably an even better matchup than Detroit was.
We probably sweep them last year before OG goes down. We were a Nembhard heave away from going up 3-0 with a battered team, starting Precious and playing Alec Burks big minutes.
Knicks need to stink to their man and stick to business in general. If we get lazy on nembhard or nesmith we will pay the price the same way we did on d white and A.Thompson respectively
Mikhal on Hali total game changer. AND they have no legitimate answer for our double big lineup IMO. Expecting a big series from KAT
Jalen has to take what they give him and not force anything
I can't wait
I have the utmost confidence in Thibs to come up with a game plan and adjust as needed.
Can we execute it?
Does Indy counter with a better execution of their plan.
What I want to happen is Knicks win baby!
Hungry for this. Lock em up.
Chandler wrote:Knicks need to stink to their man and stick to business in general. If we get lazy on nembhard or nesmith we will pay the price the same way we did on d white and A.Thompson respectivelyMikhal on Hali total game changer. AND they have no legitimate answer for our double big lineup IMO. Expecting a big series from KAT
Jalen has to take what they give him and not force anything
That's it! No showering till NBA Finals! 
Some of you guys sound way too confident and that scares me.
In watching Indy thru the 1st 2 rounds I thought they looked VERY LEGIT.
I think a HUGE factor will be can we matriculate the basketball up the court efficiently and score early without coughing the ball up too often.
Don't like our match-ups with Jalen/Hart having to struggle to get the ball up court all game against constant pressure. Someone said yesterday Indy will start the series pressuring full court, running constantly via 9-10 man rotation with goal of getting to games 6,7 and running Knicks down physically.
We are certainly more prepared this year with Kat/Mikal/Mitch and everyone else fully healthy going in.
For me the keys are...
-Kat playing aggressive and no head fakes and 8 seconds to lumber to the rim (pacers will swarm)
-Not allowing McConnell to date rape Brunson every times he brings the ball up (will wear him down)
-Bridges not in foul trouble falling for Hali's step back ugly 3s
-Thibs playing Precious and Shamet some minutes as Indy runs every game and we will likely be tired/wear down as series progresses
-Guarding the 3 pt line tightly with Nembhard and Nesmith (no uncontested threes)
We do this and stay healthy and we should win in 5 or 6. We do 1/2 these things (esp guard 3 pt line) and we should still win!
fishmike wrote:I'm trying not to be overconfident but I just look at all these matchups and I just see us stomping these guys. They are good and deep and well coached but keep taking advantage of injured teams. The Celtics utterly destroyed them last year. The same 7 guys we just took down (KP didnt play in that series).I think the biggest thing for the Knicks is this will be the softest defense we have seen in the playoffs so far. They dont have a rangy wing to shadow Brunson, they dont have an answer for KAT. There is no player on the Knicks you can hide a weak defender on. Josh and Mikal attack and OG's bully ball is getting better all the time.
Anxious and excited
I heard some commentators talking about last years Indy/Boston series won 4-0 by Boston and they said that was a very tough series.
Just checked scores and it looks much closer than 4-0 might indicate.
Game 1 Celtics Win by 5 (in OT) -- think this was game Celtics needed miraculous shot by Brown to win
Game 2 Celtics Win by 16
Game 3 Celtics Win by 3
Game 4 Celtics Win by 3
martin wrote:From god to Adam Silver to Magic straight to us:
Hopefully Magic also predicted Spurs winning Wemby lottery and Mavs winning Flag lottery.
MS wrote:I think it's going to come down to the refs. They let Indy set moving screen after moving screen last year and ride Brunson up the court. Hopefully they don't allow TJ, Neismith, Mathurin to do the same this series. Would really like to see Thibs allow someone else to bring the ball up, Hart, Bridges so Brunson isn't getting all that extra contact.
Series is all on KAT. He needs to get his ass in the post and dominate. No fadeaways, be agreesive and no stupid fouls.
I do wonder if maybe Cam Payne makes a reappearance and could possibly spell Jalen having to get the ball up the court.
Deuce scares me doing anything besides shooting that sweet jumper and blocking breakaway layups at the rim.
jskinny35 wrote:For me the keys are...-Kat playing aggressive and no head fakes and 8 seconds to lumber to the rim (pacers will swarm)
-Not allowing McConnell to date rape Brunson every times he brings the ball up (will wear him down)
-Bridges not in foul trouble falling for Hali's step back ugly 3s
-Thibs playing Precious and Shamet some minutes as Indy runs every game and we will likely be tired/wear down as series progresses
-Guarding the 3 pt line tightly with Nembhard and Nesmith (no uncontested threes)
We do this and stay healthy and we should win in 5 or 6. We do 1/2 these things (esp guard 3 pt line) and we should still win!
- transition D (whether it's just getting back quickly or hammering them on the offensive boards)
- switching perimeter screens again and JB/Kat holding their own (I feel like if we are in drop or chasing the ball all over we may be doomed). Switch - everyone stay home in good help position and make Indy beat you 1 on 1 from perimeter.
- someone please stop Hali from going to his right hand
