Scouting the Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers' Paul George, left, passes the ball after tumbling to the court with Jason Kidd during the first half of a game at Madison Square Garden. (April 14, 2013) Credit: AP
They allowed the second-fewest points in the NBA (90.7) and held teams to league lows of 42.0 percent shooting overall and 32.7 percent from three-point range. If Indiana can neutralize the Knicks' three-point shooting, it could be tough for the Knicks to advance. The Pacers also are the NBA's best rebounding team. They rely on their strong, often physical defense because they have trouble scoring at times. They averaged only 94.7 points in the regular season and scored fewer than 82 points twice -- including a 69-point game -- in their first-round series against the Hawks.
The Pacers bring athletic, physical players off the bench, but their reserves aren't as good as the Knicks' subs. Tyler Hansbrough will frustrate some of the Knicks' frontcourt players with his all-out, physical play. D.J. Augustin is a quick point guard and Gerald Green is one of the best leapers. Jeff Pendergraph and Ian Mahinmi give Indiana more size and more fouls to lay on the Knicks.
1993 first round
Knicks won series, 3-1
Defining moment: John Starks head-butts Reggie Miller in Game 3.
Hero: Patrick Ewing
Goat: Coach Bob Hill fired
1994 conference final
Knicks won series, 4-3
Defining moment: Miller jawing with Spike Lee in Game 5 at MSG while hitting several long treys.
Hero: Ewing, series-winning putback dunk
Goat: Miller, series-ending air ball.
1995 conference semifinal
Pacers won series, 4-3
Defining moment: Miller's eight points in final 18.7 seconds of Game 1 at MSG.
Hero: Miller
Goat: Ewing, missed potential game-tying layup as time expired in Game 7
1998 conference semifinal
Pacers won series, 4-1
Defining moment: Miller hits a 3 with 5.1 seconds left to force OT in Game 4 at MSG.
Hero: Miller
Goat: Ewing, slowed by injury
1999 conference final
Knicks won series, 4-2
Defining moment: Larry Johnson's winning four-point play after a controversial foul call in Game 3 .
Hero: Allan Houston, scores 32 to clinch series
Goat: Miller, 3 of 18 shooting in Game 6.
2000 conference final
Knicks won series, 4-2
Defining moment: Reggie Miller's 41 points in Game 5
Hero: Miller
Goat: Larry Johnson, scored 11 total points in Game 5 & Game 6.Keys to the series
1 Shouldering the load: Anthony already is banged up, and he will be the focal point of the Pacers' defense. If Anthony has an off series -- he shot 37.9 percent in three games against Indiana this season -- the Knicks need other guys to step up and score.
2 Point guard play: The Knicks dominated in this area against the Celtics, who didn't have a point guard. The Pacers have point guards and good perimeter defenders, so it might not be as easy for Felton to get to the basket. Indiana also should be able to take care of the ball better than Boston did.
3 Keeping cool: Both teams have hot heads, but the Pacers are the more physical team. That has been known to unnerve some Knicks, including Smith, who was suspended for Game 4 of the Boston series. In this series, the Knicks can't afford to lose any players.
They split the four regular-season meetings, with the home team winning each time. Anthony was suspended for one game in Indiana. Overall, Indiana held the Knicks to 86.3 points in the four games and 26 percent shooting from three-point range. But the Knicks are the better road team overall and have the better bench and the best player in the series.
