Hard to believe that after 82 games played in the regular season, and another 15 playoff games thereafter, that the Knicks could somehow still find themselves suffering from so basic a problem as a lack of communication. But there they were in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pacers, allowing the Pacers to run circles around them and failing to do much to stop the bleeding.
The result was a 130-121 Pacers win in which Indiana shot 51.1% from the field and 40.6% from the 3-point line, unable to corral star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who recorded 32 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds in the game. The Pacers routinely beat the Knicks on switches and back cuts off the ball.
After the game, star guard Jalen Brunson addressed the issues with communication.
May 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) returns up court against the Boston Celtics in the second quarter during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) returns up court against the Boston Celtics in the second quarter during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden.
Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
"Staying in our coverage, first and foremost, and making sure that we're keeping one on the ball, keeping bodies on bodies," Brunson said. "Doing a better job of not being out of rotation. And that's it."
Center Mitchell Robinson, whose insertion into the starting five for Game 4 was a key change for the Knicks, said that it is his responsibility to make sure the Knicks communicate defensively--thus the loss could be traced to him.
"Communication, that was the biggest thing," Robinson said. ""It started with me, I wasn't talking first. I'm the anchor of the defense, so if I'm not talking, nobody is. And we just kind of let guys get away."
The Knicks are not finished, of course, not with Game 5 still to come on Thursday night in New York. But the defense will have to do a much better job of slowing down the Pacers, who are now 32-2 when scoring 120 points or more in the regular season and playoffs.