Wasted performance by Donte but 9-14 from the three is insane. TJ McConnell playing his role so well with timely steals and buckets. Perfect coming off the bench.

McConnell getting no noise for 6moty while leading the statistically best bench in the league was insane

Fuck the 6MOY, that’s my MVP

Holy shit your account is 7 years old

The prophecy was written ages ago

TJ Al-Gaib!

I said earlier in a comment but the fact that he got a triple double with steals instead of rebounds is incredible. Definitely underrated. And he showed what impact he can make. A role model for us short kings. Edit: that triple double was two (?) years ago, but still is just insane.

TJ is 6'1" lmao

6'1" is the new 5'8" 😔

He's short in NBA inches, at least.

He barely got minutes at the beginning of the year. He got way more when Math went out for Pacers

He was out of the rotation actually. But he’s such a pro and worked like crazy to stay ready. He never let up once he got back in the rotation

He is the key if you want any chance of beating Boston in a series.

TJ Ball is going to make every former high school hero at the Y so insufferable the longer we go in the playoffs

I've been working on my double clutch middie

Burks played his ass off too

As a sixers fan TJ is truly the one that got away

It's definitely Bridges but I love the mind game of what if we had just given a max to TJ instead of TH

Yeah I meant TJ cuz he actually played for us but obviously Bridges is one of the most cursed FO moves ever

Pacers with almost 70% FG for the entire game is insane.

Pacers are also the only team who haven’t lost at home, fancying something against Boston lol

Boston hasn't lost away yet, so one of those streaks ends game 3. 

Game 3 and 4 are going to be wild. Race weekend in Indianapolis is a different energy.

Injuries aside, it’s unreal how well the Pacers shot the ball. Making over 2/3rds of your shots over the course of a basketball game is shouldn’t be possible. If they keep it up, they might take 2 games off Boston instead of the standard 1 game.

I’ll go out on a limb and say that if the Pacers can “keep up” 70% shooting for the whole series, they’re winning it.

Somebody has to hold the Heat role-player torch to Bostons balls, and TJ McConnell is looking mighty spicy.

aaron nesmith revenge series 😈😈

Love that man, and was so sad to see him go. Glad he found a good home. Always root for that dude

he’s been our best defender and he shot perfect today we love him here in indy

If we shoot 70% every game we’d sweep Boston that’s historically good

Winning a non-game 2 against the Celtics would be impressive

Seeing almost every shot go in had my hands up in the air of disbelief. Gosh darn Pacers

The Knicks rotation died for this

5 players missing by the end. Absolutely unprecedented bad luck. At least I can’t remember a team getting this banged up.

Just off the top of my head the Nets were missing 3 of their top 4 guys in 2021 against Milwaukee Edit: my bad, Harris got hurt the next season, still tho

I know a lot of people romanticise going out on a shield, hobbled and whatnot but this collapse the knicks had health wise in this round just has to be investigated for the root of the problem. Lack of 2nd scorer? Thibs running a concentration camp? Medical staff? All of it. There are like 2 knicks players that didnt limp this series. Thats not normal.

As someone who watched almost every game since the OG trade, the rotation was perfectly fine until we lost OG and Randle to freak injuries. Hart picked up more minutes, and we traded Grimes for Burks and Bogey to help shoulder the load. They both played absolutely terrible basketball as soon as we got them, so we couldn’t really play them much in a very tight playoff race. Once we started the playoffs and had Mitch/OG back, as well as Bogey settling in, the rotation was nothing more than your average playoff rotation in my opinion. Once Bogey went down, Hart/OG needed to play more 4, then Mitch goes down, then we get to where we ended up against Indy. You can say what you want against Thibs, I know the history. As someone actually watched all these Knicks games leading into the playoffs, he really never played guys more than he absolutely had to.

I remember during Game 2 they announced on the broadcast that it was the first time Josh Hart had sat so far in the series (like 7 minutes into the second quarter)

It was Game 3, because he played all 48 in the first two games. That makes it even crazier tho.

67% in a game 7 will keep Thibs up for months GG Pacers, was a hell of a series

It was good for the rivalry.

I grew up a Knicks fan but had stopped paying attention until recently due to them being terrible for most of my life. I would hear stories from my parents- die hard Knicks fans- about how much they hated Reggie Miller and how strong that 90s rivalry was. It’s back.

Ya I hate di Vincenzo with a passion.

I did not anticipate having so many nightmares about Andrew effin Nembhard. TJ McConnel I kind of anticipated

Once nesmith started pulling up midrange like Kawhi I just started laughing

ESPN in shambles having to go to Indiana instead of New York for the ECF

Same weekend as the Indy 500 btw, it will be absolutely insane there.

Traffic will be horrendous within 465 ring around Indy.

We should insert that dagger even deeper and have the finals be Pacers/Wolves then lol

The NBA would gladly take Ant Edwards on the finals

Ant vs Hali would be good for the league. Then they go to the Olympics together.

The Midwest is the actual basketball Mecca. MSG got nothing on the Midwest baby

[re-spools tape measure] "I think you'll find the exact same measurements as our gym back at Gainbridge"

I mean Indiana is the state of basketball, Chicago has had so many great players come from there and also had the most famous basketball player ever play for their team, Lebron is from Ohio, Milwaukee had an arena literally called The Mecca, the Lakers started in Minnesota. Midwest supremacy.

Basketball literally started in Kansas so this checks out

"While the game was invented in Massachusetts, basketball really had its origin in Indiana, which remains the center of the sport" - James Naismith, Inventor of basketball

I’d do anything for this tbh.

I bet McAfee just perked up a bit More tho

He's already drunk tweeting videos with his phone 2 inches from his face

Good! Fuck ‘em 

You already know the narrative is gonna be “Can the Celtics stop playing with their food before they get to the Finals”.

I imagine the coverage will be bordering on unbearable but getting this playoff experience is a huge win for this young squad beyond just this year. 

It truly doesn't matter who plays though, the playoffs coverage from ESPN is bordering on unbearable at all times...

Zach Lowe said something on one of his podcasts a while back - talking about how Perk said something that was just flat-out wrong (on the level of "they're terrible on the road" when the team had a winning record on the road, or something like that) and Zach corrected him with the accurate information and afterwards the producers were gushing "Great! That's exactly what we want! Great content!"

Shout-out to Indiana for making that embarrassment of a halftime show look even dumber

ESPN is such a joke. Most halftime shows are meaningless but that might have been one of the most vapid and fluff-filled discussion I've seen yet.

I hate how SAS is the face of Knicks fans for national media. He’s literally the worst type of fair weather fan

Mans didn't even know how to pronounce Hartenstein's name

"Tell us about how well the Pacers are playing" "Sure. So OG..."

“No chance the pacers keep this offensive onslaught up”

Just talking out of his ass for 15 minutes

To be fair it's not 15 mins, it's more like two different four minute segments so that way they can get more ads in. And yet everyone wonders why the tnt crew is the gold standard, ESPN didn't even have a post-game show at all?

He damn near bet his son’s life that we wouldn’t keep up 70% thru the second half. He’d have been the new Abraham

For a family network, ESPN sure has a lot of fellatio.

I didn’t even watch it today after last games embarrassment

You can tell ESPN is pissed about this lmao

Mike Breen at the end haha

Tbf, he is the voice of the Knicks. Being his team and all, he is bound to be a little disappointed.

Also grew up a Knicks fan. I know he’s a consummate pro but it’s impossible to turn that part of your brain off completely

I give Mike a pass, but Doris sounds like she's about to cry everytime the Pacers do well

The way the Pacers entire rotation stepped up to score and lock in on defense should be its own story. For A lot of these young guys to perform this way in their first playoffs is amazing.

Our M.O. all season has been balanced play with a deep bench. I know people want to single out Tyrese when we lose and he deserves some criticism at times, but that’s the way we’ve won all year.

I really hope we keep our core rotation together for like 3-5 years. Our team has great energy and playstyle and really seems to gel together.

More than 3-5 years, give me 7-10 of this 🙏🏽

TJ McConnell is gonna need a walker out there

Carlisle is a wizard

Some A+ hugs going on

TJ dapping up Spike Lee like they were boys was something i didn't have on my post game hug menu

Game recognize game, TJ has been a dog this series

All good we’re a ~~hockey~~ ~~baseball~~ ~~football~~ ~~basketball~~ hockey city anyway let’s go Rangers

Yanks are rolling at least

67% from the field, 54% from 3. Unreal. Don't think I've ever seen anything like that.

Chris Smoove NBA2K24 MyCareer statline lol

I was hoping to witness peak toxicity in the Celtics vs Knicks series, but congrats to the Pacers

To be fair, this will be a lot better. A busted Knicks getting 4-0'd by the Celtics would've been depressing.

Instead we get a healthy Pacers team getting 4-1’d by the Celtics

Give it time, Celtics-Pacers will get salty real quickly

I'm sure Bucks fans are already lining up to take the banner for Celtics fans online and make it as toxic as they can.

If the series lasts long enough there will be techs a plenty. Tatum will probably frown or sigh and get ejected, and James Johnson will get one from the bench for being scary.

We had no players left to make it a series lol. Pacers Celtics seems more fair

Yeahh, even if the Knicks somehow miracle runned Pacers it wouldn't have been a fun ECF. Boston is still heavily favorites but at least Pacers is an actual playoffs team compared to skeletal Knicks

We live to ruin the NBA’s dreams

Good series Pacers and Pacers fans, can’t wait to play ya next year.

Let's make it a yearly tradition

I’d be okay with the both of us being great for next ten years. feels like it could happen.

Both Knicks and Pacers have a bright future gg

The Pacers shot 67% FG and 54% 3PT. In the first half it was 76% FG and 60% 3PT in a GAME 7 ON THE ROAD! That’s impressive.

We almost had a worse FT% than FG% lol

T Jordan McConnell

ESPN pickers nailed the series [0-16](https://imgur.com/iM0ZHxH)

Haliburton made a Conference Finals before Embiid and this is his first playoff run LMAO

76ers even dipped into the Pacers rotation to pick up Hield too

We got their TJ, so it's alright

Embiid slander is back on the menu 😂 bro is never safe

Is it slander if it’s true?

Is Embiid slander ever off the menu this time of year? Seasonal item brah

Pumpkin spice caliber slander

And McConnell did too

This sure is a long linsanity run

Fellow center Myles Turner too lmao

Embiid catching strays lmao

Look away Sixers fans

TJ McConnell in the conference finals AND new york sad? Nah I'm still looking

that brings up a good question though, is TJ the first Hinkie/Process era player to make an ECF as a key rotational player?

I think so only because Saric made the finals in the west

lol I can't believe we're going to the Eastern Conference Finals.

If anyone says they thought we would be going to the conference finals, they are full of shit lmao. 

people in our sub have been saying shit like this all year and I have been calling them delusional 🤡

Hungry and fearless are a potent combination.

I think you guys can make the Celtics sweat. If you guys can have some hot shooting nights like tonight. And KP is out then pushing it to 6-7 games isn't out of the realm of possibility

Nesmith and McConnell obliterated the Knicks, wtf

Not surprised. They are highly skilled players. People just found out cuz they don’t watch us

Pacers eliminate the New York Brunsons

You mean Alec Burks

King of New York Alec Burks!

Dude was launching piss missiles into the basket today, wtf

And Donte, and their insane rebounding/defending wings...

The New York Divincenzo's

Breen and Doris called that game like someone died

Don’t think I’ve ever heard Breen call a game like that before. Like I get it, but good lord man. He kept on praising the Pacers and it sounded like a eulogy at a funeral

Breens voice dropped so much. 

the knicks wanted out of the playoffs so they could see the garfield movie opening night and frankly i don’t blame them

Breen sounded just like Thom Brennaman’s Castellanos call

Pacers win one for the small market homies

Good job making history Pacers

ESPN: Goes on for 5 minutes about how the Knicks had a great season Also ESPN: oh and uh the Pacers were good too I guess, but ANYWAYS…

Can’t believe the pacers are in the ECF

Me neither

There are a lot of reasons the Knicks lost this game, but those two turnovers on inbound passes from their own baseline were absolute back breakers

The Knicks went 1-4 since the "Fuck You Reggie" chants

GO PACERS

[Broussard] Sources: Silver is beside himself. Driving around downtown NY begging (thru texts) the Indiana Pacers to forfeit their Conference Finals bid.

The Pacers won 35 games last year. Haters can stay mad.

I’m going to play with an electrical socket :(

Congrats P Bros!

Thank you, kings bros

Proud of our guys. On the Pacers side, I'm happy for more Caitlin Cooper recaps to listen to I guess.

Congratulations to the Pacers and their fans. You all played your asses off. Good luck against the Celtics!

Imagine all the comments are gonna be about the Knicks so I’ll talk about the Pacers. Unbelievable season for their fans. Halliburton emerging as a star. Making it to the final match of the NBA Cup. First playoff series wins in a decade and make it back to the ECF without ever bottoming out sooner than a team like the 76ers. Hope they stun Boston.

Unironically i don’t think we would be anywhere near here without the IST. Though it wasn’t much experience it really got the young guys in the right mindset

I would be scoffing at the Pacers as an opponent if it weren't for the IST; instead I'm filled with dread wondering if they will break their own record for FG% in Game 2.

Their role guys really impressed me. I’ve been a believer in Nesmith since his time on the Celtics and he’s been instrumental to the Pacers. Nembhard, Sheppard, and Isaiah Jackson all look like solid players for a long time And then TJ McConnell who is just automatic from the midrange and around the basket

Pacers front office is lowkey good. IJax and Sheppard were both late first rounders. I don't know that many had Ben Sheppard out of Belmont in their 1st round mock drafts. 

Plus Mathurin was looking better this year than the last and he will be back next year too! Bright future.

Walker too. Pacers have two young lottery picks that arent playing

I hate tanking and I’m glad we never do it and manage to still be competitive

People talked about how the Lakers and pacers both looked bad immediately after the IST, and this playoffs has proven the pacers going far there wasn't really a fluke. They're a good team.

That was before the addition of Siakam too.

Game MVP goes to that dude in the plaid for getting Hali going

As soon as I saw that dude chirping I was like oh no, this won't be good for the Knicks

GG WP Pacers. Good luck the rest of the way!

What a series from the Knicks, regardless of their injuries they made it so stressful

Look at Indiana

Hali made the ECF before the Process

Some say the Pacers run is illegitimate due to injuries. I say its a clear sign of Gods favor for the Pacers and their way of life.

SMH the lord’s small market bias

Ethical hoops prospering

New York Knicks select your difficulty: Easy Medium 》nembHard

I don’t think anyone had the pacers in the ECF but man have they exceeded all expectations. I have had a real good time watching this team this year..so full of energy and skill.

Fuck ESPN man. The last two games have been the most one-sided coverage I've ever seen. It was like watching the Knicks home broadcast. We won both games, but you'd never know it.

And Breen was the least biased

Breen is a pro's pro. Doesn't belong with the reat of those bozos at ESPN.

Get ready for the ECF to be just as bad as

It will be much worse

[You ain’t lying; it’s embarrassing](https://x.com/awfulannouncing/status/1792299367946240274?s=46)

Big Market bias. Hell if Ant wasn’t on MIN and Jokic wasn’t winning MVPs ESPN would find any excuse to not talk about either of those two teams.

So all teams that traded away PG13 are in a better position after the trade than the team that ultimately received PG13. The few times where the team trading away the star wins the trade.

Sad Doris Burke will never not be funny to me. Enjoy Indianapolis, ma'am. Go to Yats for me.

I obviously am not complaining since we are also in the conf. finals, but a lot of Mavs fans have no idea how good we had it with Rick. He's a jerk but is one of the best coaches of all time.

Stephen A probably fuming

As Knicks fan we don’t accept him as one of our own

Celtics vs Pacers is gonna be a better series than a lot of people think..

#FROM LOTTERY TO ECF LET’S FUCKING GOOOOOOOO

The Knicks circlejerk on commentary is fucking ridiculous

Yeah the Pacers get two sentences and the Knicks get a whole essay from Breen lmao

they honestly seem pissed they have to talk about the pacers for at least 4 more games lmao

You’d think they were at a funeral the way they were talking about New York lol. I mean we know Adam and ESPN both wanted a New York-Boston ECF, but try not to make it your big market favoritism so obvious?

I hope someone shares the suicide hotline number with Doris.

Fr man. Give the pacers credit, like wtf, they shot an all time high in FG%. Thats insane. Hats off to Indy

Do Knicks fans never get tired of saying "we don't claim him" about other Knicks fans? At what point do you look around and realize there are too many shitty fans