"Eastern Conference Finals Preview: New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers"

What a time to be alive! If you're old enough to remember those classic 
playoff battles between New York and Indiana, we've got a chippy 
Eastern Conference Finals ahead of us. The rivalry has been renewed 
for 2025 and what a treat this generation of NBA fans will get to witness 
firsthand. As a Hoosier native, blue collar state versus big city market. 
How will this version of New York and Indiana play out for a chance to 
take the ECF?

3. New York Knicks vs 4. Indiana Pacers 

New York has been the talk of town upon making moves to win a 
championship. After a derailed playoff run in 2024, trading for Karl 
Anthony-Towns and Mikal Bridges have paid dividends. Dismantling the 
Boston Celtics to reach their first ECF since 1999. The city has been 
madness all over with fans climbing billboards, parading around with 
signs and snakes... Yes, a fan was carrying around an articulated 
python with a team hat on its head! 

Led by superstar Jalen Brunson, he's been very clutch in crucial 
moments. With a stellar bench of Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mitchell 
Robinson, the Knicks are out to prove they're serious as it gets. Having 
a battle tested first round versus Detroit, followed by shocking everyone 
winning two games in Boston before finishing the series in six games. 
They know the biggest hurdle left to jump is the ECF. The favorite to win 
this series, but they'll need everyone's contributions. Only area that'll 
stop them: injuries and attrition. 

New York can play old school basketball and hold teams under one 

hundred points. It's the brand of basketball which resembles 1990s- 
2000s era of winning between the trenches. Playing until the final 

whistle, grinding out close wins and leaving it on the court. A team 
whose identity is built around Brunson and taking what's given. 

Chasing and pacing would describe Indiana's season as they make it
back to back appearances in the ECF. Beating Milwaukee, top seeded
Cleveland and find themselves one round away from winning their first
ECF since 2000. A 50 win team nobody talked about and flew under the
radar all season. Indiana is no fluke ladies and gentlemen.

Led by superstar Tyrese Haliburton, a young man who was voted "Most
Overrated Player" has shut his critics up with being clutch in the
playoffs. He can give you high scoring numbers or be a distributor, the
offense runs through Haliburton. Indiana led the league in pace the last
two seasons and have played to their identity. Make each possession
count and stay within distance to close it out.

What'll make this series even better is seeing Pacers fans drive a tractor
on stadium grounds to ruffle Knicks Superman Spike Lee and remind
him of what he did back in 1994 referring to Hoosiers as "hicks." It
would be for grins and giggles but both fanbases who have a deep
rivalry for one another. Big New Yorkers trolling Hoosiers and our
basketball state. Most people don't know much about Indiana other than
Larry Bird from French Lick, Indiana and Indiana University basketball.

If you enjoy this rivalry and the noise will be very loud at the Mecca of
Basketball in Madison Square Garden Wednesday night for game one.
I'm not expecting too many blowouts; maybe a couple nail biters of
clutch performances by Brunson and Haliburton. Either way, this series

will be tense and chippy. One team will move on to the NBA Finals,
while the loser goes into an offseason of retooling.