What New York Must Do to Regain Control of the Eastern Conference Finals?
Through two grueling games of the Eastern Conference Finals, one thing has become painfully clear for the New York Knicks, Indiana’s speed is different. While the Boston Celtics were arguably more well-rounded, better coached, and more efficient offensively, they never truly overwhelmed New York with pure speed. The previously defending champions played with surgical precision, using well-timed cuts, screens, and spacing to create open shots. The pace was methodical. It was a chess match. Indiana, on the other hand, is throwing haymakers in transition from the moment the ball tips.
There have been moments in both Game One and Game Two where New York players looked completely gassed. After battling back from deficits, possessions late in the fourth quarter showed Knicks defenders trailing plays, slow to rotate, or simply struggling to match the burst of Indiana’s ball handlers. Guys like Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell is making it hard for New York to catch their breath. While the Knicks have done a solid job overall of slowing Indiana down in stretches, when the Pacers turn up the pace, they’re doing it in relentless waves, and that’s a style New York hasn’t fully adapted to yet.
The difference lies in how chaotic Indiana can be. This isn’t about pure talent, it’s about tempo. Indiana’s offense comes at you like a blur. Pass, cut, shoot, sprint, all within seconds. The Knicks often look like they’re forced into reactive mode, rather than playing their own brand of defense. It’s draining, physically and mentally. There’s no time to settle. There’s no time to catch your breath after a made shot or a defensive stop. If they do not want to suffer the embarrassment of last season once again, New York, for all its grit and physicality, must now find a way to impose some kind of control over the tempo.
It won’t be easy, but it’s necessary. Whether that means Coach Thibodeau strategically uses timeouts to break up runs, or the team plays more zone to force Indiana into longer possessions, something has to shift. Mitchell Robinson has done a remarkable job on the glass, giving the Knicks second-chance opportunities that have helped offset Indiana’s early bursts. Jalen Brunson has continued to master the midrange and carry the scoring load, and Karl-Anthony Towns has provided needed versatility. Still, none of that matters if the Knicks are too gassed to defend the final five minutes of the game.
New York is not out of this series. However, they will be if they don’t find a way to mentally and physically adjust to the unique chaos that Indiana thrives in. Boston tested the Knicks’ patience and shot-making. Indiana is testing their endurance. There’s a big difference, and it might be the one thing that decides this series.
