As the New York Knicks gear up for their first Eastern Conference Final in 25 years, a sense of hunger and determination still fuels the team.
“I feel like we have a long way to go,” said star guard Jalen Brunson, who has become the face of the franchise’s resurgence. “There’s a lot of confidence in ourselves and in each other. We know what we’re capable of, but we’re not satisfied yet.”
Awaiting them in the conference final is a familiar rival — the Indiana Pacers. The two teams clashed frequently in the 1990s, facing off six times from 1993 to 2000, including three matchups in the Eastern Conference Final. The Knicks prevailed in two of those three series, including a memorable victory in 1999 that sent them to their last NBA Finals appearance.
However, Indiana has had the upper hand more recently. Last season, the Pacers eliminated the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. This year, Indiana advanced to the conference final after upsetting the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, setting the stage for a heated rematch with the third-seeded Knicks.
The Pacers couldn’t be more different in style than the Knicks. Known for their high energy, aggressive tempo, and three-point shooting, Indiana thrives on disrupting their opponents — the same formula that helped them knock New York out of the playoffs a year ago.
“It’s going to be a tough opponent,” said Knicks forward Josh Hart. “They love to push the pace, whether on makes or misses. For us, it’s going to be a series where we need constant communication. We have to be focused on every possession and locked in defensively. Preparation is going to be everything.”
Despite the monumental achievement of reaching the conference final for the first time in a quarter-century, the Knicks remain focused on the bigger picture — proving they’re not just back, but here to dominate.
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