New York City recently celebrated its basketball legacy with new street signs, naming various locations after notable Knicks players, including a marker for Jalen Brunson Boulevard and Karl-Anthony Towns Square, located near Madison Square Garden. This celebration comes as the Knicks gear up to face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, marking their first appearance in this round in 25 years.
Despite the festive atmosphere, the team’s focus remains on defeating the Pacers, a rival with whom they share a tumultuous playoff history, including a painful playoff exit last season. Jalen Brunson, reflecting on last year’s loss, noted the team’s motivation to perform better this time around. “It still kind of bothers me,” he admitted, emphasizing the missed opportunity. His connection to the franchise is deep-rooted, as his father, Rick Brunson, was part of the Knicks team that faced the Pacers in the 1999 Conference Finals.
This year, the Knicks have undergone significant changes, bolstered by the addition of Towns and Mikal Bridges, and they enter this series in good health—a stark contrast to last year’s injury woes. Josh Hart highlighted the shift in team dynamics, stating that the current lineup is different from last season’s playoff squad, implying a fresh start rather than a focus on past grievances.
On the other side, the Pacers, who experienced a rocky start to their season, have transformed into one of the league’s top-performing teams, propelled by a 40-17 finish and swift playoff victories over the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Both teams exhibit a mindset of moving forward. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau underlined the importance of staying disciplined and concentrating solely on the upcoming challenges, while Pacers coach Rick Carlisle echoed sentiments of looking past previous series to prepare for the current match-up.
Overall, this Eastern Conference Finals series is shaping up to be not just a battle of skill, but a test of mental fortitude for both franchises, with hopes of rewriting their narratives on the grand stage of the playoffs. The excitement surrounding the Knicks’ newfound energy and strategic focus, paired with the Pacers’ resilience, points to a thrilling series ahead.