The Definitive Pacers vs. Knicks ECF Preview (Patreon)

Breaking 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