All 16 ESPN Analysts Predicted The Knicks Would Defeat The Pacers Ahead Of The Series

The fact that not one analyst gave the Pacers a chance against the New York Knicks is really surprising, especially considering the Pacers were able to beat the Milwaukee Bucks, who were the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Granted, the Bucks had major injury troubles, but the Pacers still had to play well in order to beat them.

In fact, only three analysts from ESPN correctly predicted that the series would go seven games. The Pacers were absolutely sensational against the Knicks, playing solid, efficient basketball in the hostile environment of Madison Square Garden en route to the win.

The Pacers were led in scoring by Tyrese Haliburton, as their superstar scored 26 points along with 4 rebounds and 6 assists. Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam both contributed with 20 points each. Even Aaron Nesmith and Myles Turner contributed with 19 and 17 points respectively. It was a great performance all around from the Pacers.

The Indiana Pacers Are Proving All The Critics Wrong

The Indiana Pacers were down 2-0 to the Knicks in this series but fought hard to come back and win the series 4-3. It was an incredible series, as both teams fought incredibly hard to try and wrestle control of the series away from the other. But the Pacers have been disrespected by many during this playoff run, and are slowly but surely, getting their revenge on them.

Most notably, going into Game 6 of the Knicks-Pacers series, the New York Knicks players showed up at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse dressed in funeral clothes, hinting at the fact that they were going to put the series to bed. That backfired on them majorly, as the Pacers would go on to tie the series and force a Game 7 back at the Garden.

The Pacers, despite being the sixth seed in the East this season, now have a chance at going to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000, when Reggie Miller and co. were defeated by Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

While the Celtics are considered the favorites to win the series and go to the NBA Finals, as they have been since the start of the season, the Pacers have proven that they cannot be underestimated. With Tyrese Haliburton averaging 18.8 points, 8.1 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, the Pacers have found a franchise leader who can bring them a lot of success.

The Pacers will definitely be the underdogs going into the series against the Boston Celtics. But they will relish that, as they have been the underdogs in every series they have played in the playoffs and have overcome that to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.