I know this may not be a popular opinion, but I’m sticking with Mikal. His first season with the Knicks isn’t going to define his career. What he did during the Celtics series, for me, he deserves another season before we start coming out with the pitchforks.

There’s a Shaun Livingston-esque hesitation to SGA’s mid-range jumper. Still butter tho.

Pacers are incredibly good at swiping at the ball, in tight spaces, without fouling. Both teams doing a good job at limiting each other’s best player.

One other reason I would somewhat guard against just running it back is Jayson Tatum’s injury. You need to diagnose whatever our problem is and fix it, b/c after next season the road to the ECF/Finals becomes much more difficult.

Just listening to that titanic song with the violin at the end all day. Just that type of mood 😔

Dennis Schröder should get strong consideration from the Knicks FO this offseason.

Imo we have better top-end talent, but the Pacers are a deeper team and one that executes the game plan at a higher and more consistent level. Part of that is chemistry (that Indy developed from last year), part of it coaching.

The Knicks have heart and they fight. That’s rarely been an issue for this team. But they needed something different to beat the Pacers - strategy and/or tactical savvy that has not been on display consistently enough for this team to take the next step. Still proud of this team.

The reasons we lost in no particular order:

KAT’s lack of offense
Turnovers
Josh Hart doing absolutely nothing
Thibs

Josh Hart just buried us.

Outside of the turnovers there’s some pretty good basketball being played on both sides. Means that any little mistake has the potential to be deadly from here on out.

Knicks need to get KAT the ball at the top of the key. Pacers won’t double him there. He can drive, shoot, or pass much easier.

Gotta figure out a way to get KAT going here. His shooting could really give us a lead.

Gonna have to hit some threes and cut down the turnovers, but you like what you see so far.

“and Monday” is the type of energy we need! 🫡

For me, the biggest key to victory is the initial defense that both, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby will play on Haliburton, and subsequently the defense that KAT and Jalen will play on him when they switch. As long as we keep him from showing out, I like our chances.

One of the things I think the Knicks can carry into game 6 is their aggressiveness on the offensive side of the ball. Jalen and KAT drove the ball relentlessly. You may not get the same calls in Indiana, but good things will happen off those drives.

Great win! I still think there are too many possessions where the Knicks commit 1 and a half to 2 to the ball which creates unnecessary rotations. You’re asking players to close out extremely well or the Pacers to miss open shots. They’re one of the best passing teams in the NBA

Whatever happens in this game…the Precious Achiuwa minutes were huge in the third. Pacers could’ve really cut the lead with KAT and Mitch out. Didn’t happen.

Believe it or not, one of the keys to that half was KAT’s defense. Had one dumb foul, but played straight up, and didn’t lunge before the player he was guarding was in his shooting motion. That’s all we need from him.

For me, I’d rather have Hali score two points off a drive on Jalen than try to execute some form of hedge/recover where we rotate our defense and they get an open three. At least in one scenario we’re disrupting the flow of what they like to do.

Tonight I wanna see:

- OG start on Hali
- Jalen stop hedge & recover
- No dumb fouls from KAT
- better communication on screens and switches
- keep playing wright/Shamet, but pivot if they don’t have it
- Play Deuce more unless he gets into fouls trouble or cant shoot.

I’m not gonna pile on Josh, cause he’s been the author of some of my favorite Knicks moments from the past couple of seasons, but sometimes he just audibles defensively and expects everyone else to react. It’s possible that’s worked for him, but last night, it really didn’t.

The Pacers ran (to me) a simple staggered screen at the top of the key, and the Knicks looked like they had no idea how to defend it. Haliburton had clear driving lanes to the rim for what felt like at least 5-6 possessions. A big part of why we couldn’t complete the comeback.

You never want to overreact to one series, but more and more it feels like we’re stuck b/w two identities. If KAT is going to be here, it feels like we need to shift to a team that hangs its hat on outscoring the opponent and plays situational good defense instead of vice versa.

TJ McConnell said something the other night that stuck with me. Said the Pacers matchup hunted too much and it interrupted the flow of the offense. Definitely feel like the Knicks do that to a degree as well.

The Josh Hart minutes tonight are a big reason why it’s hard to defend Thibs at times. Of course after his game 3 heroics, you think he’s just a play away from altering the game. But when it’s not there, you have to pivot. Thibs didn’t.

Couple of things that happened last game that I don’t think will continue in game 4. The Pacers won’t shoot 20% from three, but Jalen will also be more impactful for game 4. He had 23 but didn’t get others involved and struggled with finding his shot.

The Pacers really have no answer for him, and the only time he doesn’t show up offensively is when we don’t give him the ball.

If KAT can take some night classes at the Mitchell Robinson school of not fouling and jumping straight up to contest, we would be a juggernaut.