3 bold predictions: Prediction for the Knicks 2025 Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Pacers

The New York Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. But can they beat the Indiana Pacers?

New York Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. After defeating the Detroit Pistons in the first round, the Knicks upset the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs. They won all six games and defeated defending champion Knicks by a landslide 119-81 in Game 6.

However, their mission is far from over as they face a strong Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Fortunately, as long as they maintain their current level, the Knicks are expected to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.

Jaylen Brunson continues the hot momentum of the Knicks' playoffs

The Knicks are largely thanks to Jaylen Brunson. He is a recognized hero of the Knicks, especially at critical moments. But more importantly, he played a real superstar level in the playoffs and took his game to a new level.

In the playoffs this season, he averaged 28.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game, shooting as high as 44.0% from the field and 36.3% from three-point shooting percentage.

Although Brunson competes with Tyres Halliburton, it is safe to say that he will not slow down in another fierce battle with the Pacers.

Although the New York Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in seven games last year in the playoffs, the former Villanova distinguished player was clearly the silver lining for the Knicks. He averaged 29.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. He should be able to copy such data this time because he hopes to lead the New York Knicks to revenge and eventually advance to the NBA Finals.

Coincidentally, Brunson and Halliburton's collaboration experience was also quite exciting. In addition to last year's playoff showdown, the two players also faced head-on in an episode of WWE Smackdown. After keeping fans waiting for a long time, their Eastern Conference Finals showdown has finally arrived, and the Knicks star should show his top strength again.

Mitchell Robinson will show his tough defense in this series. In the 2024-25 season, the Knicks missed Mitchell Robinson in many games. However, his return has brought great vitality to the New York team, especially in the playoffs.

The Celtics, as an unpopular team in the second round of the game against the defending champion, are expected to dominate the offensive end with their strong Five Tigers core. However, their offense was greatly limited due to Robinson's elite defense. If he could replicate such a performance in the next game, the Knicks should make the Pacers' days even more sad.

The 7-foot center forward also showed excellent defensive performance while serving as the team's main player. Despite Robinson's size, he did not hesitate when chasing the shooter on the outside. While the Pacers are not as good as Boston with Indiana, they do rely heavily on lineup depth and a wealth of offensive options. Therefore, Robinson's defense should play a major role in facing the dangerous Pacers.

If there is anything special about Robinson's performance, it is that he is willing to take on dirty and tiring work. To make the Knicks more eye-catching, he shouldn't be the only one.

Josh Hart and Miles McBride organize offenses on the outside, while OG Anunobi and Mikal Bridges complete the task with both offense and defense. The New York Knicks have a great chance of winning over the Pacers in fighting for ball and rebounds, and these two key statistics are the key to the two teams' duel last year.

OG Anunobi and Mikal Bridges will embarrass Tyrese Halliburton

Indiana's success is largely due to Halliburton's rise. Therefore, he will become New York's number one public enemy. The two-time NBA All-Star player is in a hot state, averaging 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game, and shooting percentage as high as 47.4%. Fortunately, the Knicks have some players who can limit Halliburton, including veterans Anunobi and Mikal Bridges.

Although both players have fluctuated on the offensive end, they have always remained stable on the defensive end. In the second round of the game against the Boston Celtics, Anunobi and Bridges took turns to cause a lot of trouble for Jason Tatum. In fact, as long as Anunobi is present, the Celtics will find it difficult to find form.

Bridges, on the other hand, played a crucial role in the tone of the series: In the first game against Tatum, he completed a winning and losing steal, which ultimately helped the team win a 108-105 comeback.

Halliburton and Tatum are not the same type of players. However, the signature features of these two players in the Knicks are both the opponent's strongest outside players. Although Halliburton's offensive firepower is strong, he is not unstoppable. Anunobi and Bridges of the Knicks have enough advantages to disrupt his pace in this series.