The New York Knicks are about to start their Eastern Conference Finals battle against the Indiana Pacers, and the series promises to be incredibly intense and, for fans, incredibly thrilling.
Speaking on ESPN, Brian Windhorst told fans what to look for, stating that three specific players could work wonders for New York.
He said that OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart might be the difference-makers for the Knicks and could get them across the finish line.
“When you have [OG] Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, you have so much flexibility, and don’t forget about Josh Hart. Josh Hart on Pascal Siakam matchup is extremely important. Bridges is a type of player who they expect and get great defense out of him. When Bridges scores, they’re virtually unbeatable. The spotlight will be on the point guards, the rubber’s going to meet the road at the wing,” Windhorst said, via NBA on ESPN.
"When [Mikal] Bridges scores they are virtually unbeatable."@WindhorstESPN says the Knicks' wings hold the key to beating the Pacers 🔑 pic.twitter.com/kcU6kfGArO
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 20, 2025
While a lot of people will be paying close attention to Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, others will be keeping an eye on Anunoby, Bridges, and Hart because these three might lead the Knicks to their first win in the series.
All three are known for their defense, but the Knicks really thrive when they are hot on offense, too.
They are two-way players who can get the job done on both ends of the court, and that is exactly what the Knicks will need against the Pacers.
Indiana is a fast, energetic, and determined team.
The Cleveland Cavaliers just learned that the Pacers won’t change their tempo for anyone, which is one of their best assets.
So if the Knicks are able to stay on top of them with great defense from these three and others, it could give them a huge upper hand and take away one of Indiana’s biggest strengths.
This series will be filled with players who could ignite at any moment, which is part of what could make it so exciting.
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