It's the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks in Game 6 of this Eastern Conference Semifinals meeting packed with intensity and vital to both team's playoff hopes. If you can't watch the game, listen to it for free online, but before that, let's look at the matchup.
Word has it that the Pacers are being dormant about announcing George Hill's status before the game. Sounds like they are taking a page out of Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots organization in relation to injury. The refer to Hill's condition as being day-to-day, but the truth is the Pacers might not have days to rescue their season as the Knicks look to steal Game 6 at the Banker's Life Fieldhouse in Indiana. A win gets the Knicks back in the Garden and would fill the Pacers with despair and anguish knowing they could have closed the series out twice.
The truth is, the Pacers look like a mediocre squad on the floor. The only reason why Game 5 wasn't a blowout was because the Knicks struggled as well. The Pacers had no offensive flow. It seemed like they were playing off their adrenaline and sheer strength. They still finished with more offensive boards than the Knicks, but there was no substance behind their offense. The roles reversed. The Knicks looked more patient on the offensive end while the Pacers were playing street ball.
The Pacers do have an advantage with their physical style of play. However, they don't have enough bodies to come in and sub for a Roy Hibbert or Paul George in foul trouble. That was one of the keys in Game 5, the Pacers wanted to dominate the game physically and they paid for it with fouls. Hibbert and Geroge saw extended time on the bench, meanwhile, the Knicks were running around the court doing the best they could with their struggling offense.
The Knicks remedy was their bench in Game 5 and we can see these guys receive more action in Game 6. J.R. Smith is a given. He'll come into a game even if he shoots 0-20. However, Chris Copeland's offense was timely and gave the Knicks breathing room.
The Pacers have to impose their physical will on the Knicks without getting into foul trouble. Look for the crowd to try and disrupt the Knicks' flow early on, but look for Carmelo Anthony to take matters into his own hands.