New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers: Game 6 Preview, Schedule and Predictions
The New York Knicks kept their season alive with an 85-75 triumph in Game 5 at home, so the series now turns to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for Game 6 as the Indiana Pacers try again to close things out.
Chris Copeland provided Mike Woodson a huge boost off the bench, as he notched 13 points in 19 minutes. New York led early and was in control for nearly the entire game, as Carmelo Anthony regained his shooting touch, and the Knicks were the more aggressive unit.
Indiana struggled without point guard George Hill, who was ruled out due to a concussion suffered in Game 4. The Pacers dished out just 12 assists and committed 19 turnovers en route to 36 percent shooting.
Frank Vogel hopes to have his floor general back at full strength to clinch the series at home.
Date/Time: Saturday, May 18, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Series Record: 3-2 Pacers
TV: ESPN
Key Storyline: Will George Hill’s return do the trick?
Without George Hill in the lineup in Game 5, Indiana simply lacked offensive consistency.
D.J. Augustin wasn’t able to generate consistent offense in his stead, and consequently, Indiana relied on a combination of Paul George and Lance Stephenson to help out with the facilitating.
ESPN Stats & Info explained just how weak the Pacers are in pick-and-roll situations without Hill:
The Pacers’ pick-and-roll ball handlers shot 3-of-11 (27.3 percent) with four turnovers in Game 5 against the Knicks. The Pacers struggled on those plays without George Hill, who shot 50.0 percent as the pick-and-roll ball-handler in the first four games of the series.
Hill is questionable to return for Game 6, as he was scheduled to take another concussion test Friday night.
Indiana’s odds of clinching the series ride heavily on Hill’s status, as it depends on him for more than just playmaking and shooting. His return would significantly upgrade Frank Vogel‘s defense: He’s done a terrific job on Raymond Felton for much of the series.
If Hill comes back and is near 100 percent, the blue and gold will be that much closer to this year’s Eastern Conference Finals.
Series Star So Far: Carmelo Anthony
It hasn’t been a pretty series for ‘Melo, and he’s endured a couple rough games along the way.
However, he’s the best player in the series, and he saved New York Thursday night.
Anthony has drawn a lot of criticism for his one-on-one exploits, and in Game 3 in particular, they hindered the Knicks’ efficiency. Nevertheless, he’s scoring 28.7 per night and grabbing 6.9 boards, and he has given his club a chance to force a Game 7.
He shot 12-of-28 (43 percent) in Game 5, including eight crucial points in the fourth quarter to keep Indiana at arm’s length.
Taking care of business at home is one thing, but can Anthony translate it to Indy for Game 6?
Projected Starting Lineups
Knicks: Pablo Prigioni, PG; Raymond Felton, SG; Iman Shumpert, SF; Carmelo Anthony, PF; Tyson Chandler, C
Pacers: George Hill, PG (questionable); Lance Stephenson, SG; Paul George, SF; David West, PF; Roy Hibbert, C
Knicks Injury Report (via CBSSports.com)
Tyson Chandler (back), probable for Game 6
Pacers Injury Report
George Hill (head), questionable for Game 6
Knicks Will Win If…
…at least three players generate efficient offense.
Getting three or four players to produce at a healthy clip is easier said than done, but the Knicks have the resources to make it happen.
If Raymond Felton can shoot a high percentage while doling out five to eight assists, that’s a good start. His effectiveness might hinge on George Hill’s return for Indiana.
Now, we get to the tricky part. Can ‘Melo and J.R. Smith both produce on the same night?
Although Smith has yet to find a rhythm in this series, he’s gradually playing better. He was driving with purpose, dishing to teammates, and clamping down defensively in the Game 5 win. A hot shooting night might be just around the corner.
Getting Chris Copeland to chime in with these three would be magnificent for Woodson.
Will all four keep the flow going, or will Indy enjoy a stagnant version of the Knicks?
Pacers Will Win If…
…Hill returns and the team wins the aggression battle on both ends.
Hill’s absence was certainly a factor in the Pacers’ Game 5 loss, but it wasn’t the only factor.
New York was more aggressive and confident, and that manifested itself in the undersized Knicks nearly winning the rebounding battle against the bigger Pacers. ‘Melo and Tyson Chandler were assertive early and often, so Paul George and Roy Hibbert got into some serious foul trouble.
The Pacers can’t afford to commit 19 turnovers while forcing only 10. They also can’t afford to shoot 19-of-33 from the charity stripe.
Their passes must be crisper, their cuts and post-ups must be more purposeful and they must reclaim dominance in the rebounding department. At this point in the series, it’s about who wants it more, and Indiana needs to use its home crowd to fuel that extra edge.
Prediction
Even if Hill isn’t 100 percent, his presence in Indiana’s lineup and comfortability in the pick-and-roll will give them steady production from quarter to quarter.
Don’t expect New York to go quietly, as it will unlikely deliver another ugly road performance as it did in Games 3 and 4. ‘Melo will be driven, and I would be surprised if he scored fewer than 30 points.
Ultimately, the Pacers have the personnel and the home court to wear the Knicks down. Hill will challenge the Knicks’ perimeter shooting; George will make Anthony work for everything, and Hibbert and West will remind New York that the paint is Pacer territory.
A Game 7 would have been fun, but it’s not in the cards.
Prediction: Pacers 94, Knicks 88
Follow Daniel on Twitter for more playoff hoops talk: @DanielO_BR
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Is George Hill Indiana Pacers’ Hidden Key to Snuffing out New York Knicks?
George Hill quietly made “The Leap” between Games 4 and 5 of the Indiana Pacers‘ Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the New York Knicks.
And not just a physical leap from the hardwood to a darkened training room on account of a concussion, though that had everything to do with it. Rather, I’m referring to the more symbolic, even lyrical leap that Hill made—from Rodney Dangerfield to Jodi Mitchell, from “I can’t get no respect!” to “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.”
The Pacers pummeled the wayward Knicks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Game 4, 93-82. Hill led the way with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting, with four assists, three rebounds and a steal in 37 minutes for good measure. Statistically speaking, it was arguably Hill’s finest playoff performance as a Pacer.
And that’s before we even consider the pesky defense he played on Raymond Felton, particularly in the pick-and-roll.
Unfortunately, Hill’s postseason breakout wasn’t without incident. He caught an elbow to the head from Tyson Chandler in the first quarter of that game, and though he managed to play on without further incident, the lingering effects were difficult to shake. Soon enough, Hill’s persistent headache gave way to a concussion diagnosis, forcing Hill himself to give way to D.J. Augustin in Game 5.
The result? The Pacers dropped a wholly (and strangely) winnable game in Hill’s absence. Moving Augustin into the starting five, albeit out of necessity, threw the entire team out of whack. There were some stretches wherein Lance Stephenson and Paul George had to split duties at the point (Yikes!), others during which the seldom seen Gerald Green was asked to make entry passes into the post (Double Yikes!), and still others that rendered the mistake-prone Sam Young far too pivotal a piece of the Pacers’ incomplete puzzle (Even More Yikes!).
Hence, the 19 turnovers (seven between Paul George and Gerald Green) against 12 assists (none from Augustin), the 36.2 percent shooting for the Pacers, and Felton’s pick-and-roll renaissance (via Hardwood Paroxysm):
In essence, Hill’s concussion set off an unsettling chain of events that ended with the Pacers’ (precarious lack of) depth, particularly on the perimeter, being put to the test…and failing rather miserably.
And predictably. For all the burgeoning star power of Paul George, the intriguing storyline that is Lance Stephenson, the defensive dominance of Roy Hibbert and the veteran reliability of David West, it turns out that Hill is the one who truly butters Indy’s proverbial bread.
According to NBA.com, the Pacers outscored the opposition by 8.7 points per 100 possessions when Hill played and were outscored by 2.5 points per 100 possessions when he sat during the regular season—a disparity of 11.2 points. So far through these playoffs, those numbers have swung even more dramatically, to plus-8.4 with Hill and minus-15.3 without him. The difference in the Knicks’ series alone has been astonishing (via ESPN Stats & Info):
Make that minus-30 without Hill now, after the Pacers’ 10-point defeat in Game 5.
Clearly, Indy needs a healthy George Hill to ensure victory in this series—and avoid becoming just the ninth team in NBA history to blow a 3-1 series lead. They need his ball-handling and passing to keep the Pacers’ stodgy offense moving, and his outside shooting to keep opposing defenses honest. They need his length, athleticism and spatial smarts on the defensive end to disrupt the Knicks’ pick-and-roll attack.
Heck, they need his mere presence to relegate D.J. Augustin back to the bench and re-solidify the rest of Indy’s razor-thin rotation.
Unfortunately, having Hill suit up at all might be too much for the Pacers to ask at this point, given the NBA’s new concussion protocols (per Mark Montieth of Pacers.com):
To be sure, Indy still owns the high ground in this series. They’ll have two more shots at closing out New York, including once at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 18th. The Pacers were excellent at home throughout the regular season (30-11 record, plus-8.8 points per 100 possessions) and have been even better there in the 2013 playoffs (5-0 record, plus-15.6 points per 100 possessions), per NBA.com.
Moreover, the Knicks didn’t exactly blow the doors off the Hill-less Pacers in Game 5. Indy had every opportunity to steal a win at MSG, despite the aforementioned Hill-related issues, along with foul trouble for Paul George and Roy Hibbert and 14 missed free throws for the team as a whole. Indy’s bigs can control the interior and clean the glass, especially with Tyson Chandler’s fitness in question.
Perhaps the shifting of the series back to Indianapolis will be change enough to put the Pacers back on the winning track. Perhaps they’ll be able to cut down on their own mistakes, make more of their free throws and squeeze steadier performances out of their oft-unreliable reserves, regardless of whether or not Hill’s in the lineup.
But if Hill doesn’t play in Game 6 and the Pacers suffer the same fate that befell them in Game 5, then George’s “Leap” (or, at least, the narrative surrounding it) will be all but complete.
For better or, in Indy’s case, for worse.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Roy Hibbert Calls Out Indiana Pacers After Sluggish Game 5 Loss
After squandering a chance to eliminate the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden Thursday night, Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert was pretty candid with his postgame assessment of his team’s effort. To put it mildly, he wasn’t particularly pleased with the 85-75 loss.
Roy Hibbert: “We played like [wussies] tonight.I’ll get fined for that but I don’t care.” And he didn’t say wussies.
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 17, 2013
Hibbert could have chosen his words more carefully, but it’s hard to disagree with him on either count.
First, his team did lack a certain intensity in Game 5, which was somewhat surprising given Indiana’s hard-nosed demeanor. Plus, if there was ever a time to really ratchet up the physicality, this was it; the Knicks were reeling and facing the prospect of elimination on their home floor.
But instead of going for the jugular, Indiana turned the ball over 19 times, relaxed its defensive intensity on the perimeter, and didn’t take advantage of a massive advantage in free-throw attempts. (The Pacers made only 19-of-33 from the stripe, while New York only attempted 17 foul shots).
And second, he’s definitely going to get fined.
It’s great that Hibbert is upset about his team’s failure to slam the door. That kind of frustration is something Indiana can use to engineer a better effort in Game 6.
Plus, it’s never a bad thing when a Pacer earns a comparison to another Indiana legend.
Roy Hibbert channeling Larry Bird post game. #irritated
— Chris Richardson (@CRich4) May 17, 2013
To be clear, calling out the entire team collectively can be an effective tactic. But Hibbert moved into dangerous territory when he indicated that some of his teammates were prepared to get the job done…and that some definitely weren’t.
More Hibbert: “Some people were ready to go and some weren’t.”
— Lee Jenkins (@SI_LeeJenkins) May 17, 2013
The Pacers have a chance to regroup before heading home to take another shot at closing out the series. And while it’s possible that Hibbert’s choice words will create a distraction. What’s more likely, though, is that his sentiments will serve to motivate his teammates to get the job done in Game 6.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Evan Gordon transferring to Indiana (Yahoo! Sports)
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Evan Gordon is coming home.
View full post on Yahoo! Sports – NCAA Men’s Hoops News
NBA Picks: Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks, Game 5
Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith are shooting a combined 33 percent over their last seven games, which is important to consider when making your NBA picks on Thursday as the New York Knicks try to avoid elimination against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden.
Sports bettors will find that the Knicks are 4.5-point home favorites in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 179 in the market.
Let’s take a closer look at Game 5 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series from a betting perspective, while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way.
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
NBA Playoffs: The One Thing About Game 5, New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers
The New York Knicks started out the playoffs with high expectations. Carmelo Anthony‘s game had reached a level that led to him winning the scoring title. As a group, the Knicks were clicking again, mustering up a 13-game winning streak towards the end of the regular season.
The NBA on TNT guys break down The One Thing you should be looking out for in Game 5 of the New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers series.
Do you agree with what they had to say? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Could Indiana Pacers’ Defense Knock Miami Heat off Stride?
As the Indiana Pacers take control of their second-round series, it seems that their hard-headed defense is on a collision course with the Miami Heat, ready to slow them down and threaten their chances at repeating as NBA Champions.
Sure, they still have a game to win after taking three of the first four from the New York Knicks, but it seems safe to at least talk about their potential meeting with the Heat (sorry Bulls, I’m counting you guys out too).
Kenny Smith on whether the Knicks are done: “They’re not done. But the timer’s gone off. I’m gonna go check the oven.” #genius
— Rob Phillips (@robphillips3) May 15, 2013
New York has yet to get its offense rolling in the postseason like it did near the end of the regular season, and for it to pull out three straight wins seems rather improbable. It might be as improbable as the Pacers somehow beating Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals.
After seeing the Pacers give the Heat a bit of a rough go in the semifinals last season, it seems as if this could be the best possible matchup from an entertainment standpoint, but just about the worst if you’re the Heat.
Indiana won two of its first three games in the playoffs against the Heat in 2012 before losing three in a row and dropping the series four games to two.
In their two wins, the Pacers held Miami to 75 points in each game, allowing them to average just 81.7 points per game through the first three.
After Game 3, the Pacers gave up an average of 107 points over the course of the final three games and didn’t score more than 93 themselves.
In short, Miami manhandled them.
However, there is a huge difference between the teams compared to last year.
The Heat will be playing with Chris Bosh, who was out for all but one game in that series in 2012, and a gimpy Dwyane Wade, who has averaged just 12.3 points per game in the playoffs on just 43.9 percent shooting.
Oh, and they’ve got Ray Allen as an additional threat.
The Pacers had another year to grow as a team, Paul George is this year’s Most Improved Player and their defense has gone from ninth in the league all the way up to first. Of course, they’re also without Danny Granger, but they can now boast a somehow useful Lance Stephenson.
What about Indiana’s improvement makes it a threat to the Heat? It’s that much-improved defense that has allowed the Pacers to lock down the Knicks and push them to the brink of elimination.
While the Pacers have a terrific low-post presence with Roy Hibbert and David West, two big, intimidating bodies, they have been most impressive when it comes to defending the three-point line.
Teams shot just 32.7 percent against the Pacers from range this season, tops in the NBA.
Not only that, but with Stephenson, Paul George, George Hill and even Tyler Hansbrough, they’ve got a bevy of players that are able to slow down and even stop an offense in transition.
With fast, athletic and smart defenders, Indiana’s defense is giving up just 10 fast-break points per game at the best efficiency in the NBA.
To make things even more difficult for their opponents, those bruisers in the paint allowed an average of just 35.5 points in the paint per game. Once again, that’s the best in the league.
So how do you beat the Pacers when they’re in lockdown defense mode, tightly contesting three-pointers, refusing to allow transition points and mauling anybody who ventures into the paint?
You’ve got to make mid-range jumpers.
One look at Miami’s shot chart for the season should tell you that the Heat have no problem shooting mid-range jumpers, but that’s not the point.
The Pacers force teams to make the least useful shots on the floor in order to beat them. That generally gives them a chance to win most games they play.
I know what the next thought has to be: Miami is currently flipping the script on a terrific defensive squad in its series against Chicago, so can’t it just do the same thing with the Pacers?
Honestly yes, that’s entirely possible. However, the style of defense that Chicago has been forced to play against Miami is very different from Indiana’s style. While the Bulls are forced to punch teams in the mouth and drag games down into the mud in order play at a pace at which they can consistently score, the Pacers just beat what the opposition gives them.
Sure, they’ll attempt to control the pace of games, but much of that is done with a methodical offense that uses the entire shot clock and inhales offensive rebounds.
Indiana has allowed Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith to play their isolation game. The Pacers simply play them one-on-one and swarm when it seems a shot is coming.
If New York decides the pick-and-roll is a wiser choice (as it’s done in Game 3 and 4), Indiana simply takes that in stride and swarms the guy coming off the pick or the roller with one of its big men in the paint.
Not only do the Pacers have a terrific defensive game plan, but they’ve got a group of players who are individually great defenders.
Their chances to beat the Heat four out of seven times remain pretty long, but with the defense they play, they’ve got the best shot of any team in the East.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Indiana Pacers take control vs. New York Knicks
Pacers beat Knicks in Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead in the series
View full post on USATODAY.com Feed
New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers: Game 4 Postgame Grades and Analysis
The Indiana Pacers are playing inspired basketball right now, and the same absolutely can’t be said for the New York Knicks.
Game 4 ended with the Pacers gaining a 3-1 series lead thanks to a 93-82 beat down of the Knicks.
During the first half, in which the Knicks trailed 48-34 at halftime, the frustration was clear on Carmelo Anthony‘s face—as he scored 16 of the Knicks’ 34 first-half points.
It wasn’t like ‘Melo was jacking up a lot of more shots than everyone else. He shot 6-of-13 from the field through the first two quarters, which is rather efficient for ‘Melo.
The problem was that the rest of the Knicks shot 8-of-30 from the floor in the first half, and they let the Pacers abuse them on the glass—out-rebounding the Knicks 30-18 in that time frame.
‘Melo did all he could, with 24 points and nine rebounds, but once again, J.R. Smith let the Knicks down even though he ended with 19 points, because he shot an abysmal 7-of-22 from the floor.
Paul George and George Hill led the way for the Pacers with 44 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists between them.
Game 5 is set for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off at Madison Square Garden. While the Pacers look like they’re ready to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals, never count out the Knicks at home.
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Indiana Basketball: 5 Most Important Traits Tom Crean Looks for in a Player
The qualities that make a successful coach are often reflected in the players he recruits. Indiana’s Tom Crean is no exception.
When Crean accepted the job in Bloomington, several changes had to be made immediately, leading directly to the undermanned 2008-09 roster that, at one point, famously boasted only two scholarship players.
After a few seasons of rebuilding, Crean has the Hoosiers humming again by adhering to a few particular criteria.
Here’s a look at a few of the attributes it takes to become a Hoosier in the Crean Era.
View full post on Bleacher Report – College Basketball
