Can the Knicks force game 7?

Summary

The Athletic NBA Daily: Episode Summary – "Can the Knicks Force Game 7?" Release Date: May 30, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of The Athletic NBA Daily, hosts Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and Esfandiar Baraheni dive deep into the intense Eastern Conference Finals matchup between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. With the series hanging in the balance, the discussion centers on whether the Knicks can push the series to a decisive Game 7 following their impressive victory in Game 5.

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Recap of Game Five

Analyst 2 kicks off the conversation by highlighting the Knicks' dominant performance in Game 5, where they secured a decisive 111-94 win over the Pacers. The Knicks managed to take control "wire to wire," demonstrating resilience and strategic prowess.

Analyst 2 [02:49]: "The Knicks got it done wire to wire. They did not make it hard. We're going back to Indy."

Despite trailing the series 3-2, the Knicks' triumph in Game 5 signaled their ability to compete fiercely, contrasting sharply with the Pacers' performance.

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Performance Analysis

The hosts delve into the standout performances and key factors that influenced the game's outcome. Carl Anthony Towns emerges as a pivotal figure, showcasing exceptional skill despite playing on a "bum knee."

Analyst 2 [03:39]: "Playing on a bum knee. And I mean, you would not have noticed it from the way he performed."

Towns was lauded for his electrifying presence and ability to set the game's tone early, a crucial element in high-stakes elimination games.

Analyst 1 emphasizes the Knicks' physicality and defensive strategy, which significantly disrupted the Pacers' rhythm.

Analyst 1 [04:21]: "The Knicks set the tone like they. They played more physical."

The Pacers struggled with energy and execution, particularly in shooting and playmaking, leading to their inability to maintain momentum.

Analyst 2 [04:51]: "Tyrese Halberton did not show up 2 for 7 from the field. ... It wasn't a great shooting night for them."

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Player Highlights

Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart received special mention for their impactful performances. Brunson's impressive 32 points, including a 15-point third quarter, demonstrated his offensive prowess, albeit with limited minutes.

Analyst 1 [08:28]: "Jalen Brunson only played 33 minutes. He ended up with 32 points, by the way, incredible third quarter from Brunson."

Josh Hart redeemed himself in Game 5, contributing 12 points and 10 rebounds, showcasing his versatility and defensive efforts.

Analyst 1 [08:28]: "This was Josh Hart's best game of the series, undoubtedly."

On the Pacers' side, Tyrese Halliburton's struggles and the team's high turnover count (19) were significant factors in their defeat.

Analyst 1 [19:57]: "Miles Turner had four turnovers, Siakam had three. ..."

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Team Strategies and Adjustments

The discussion highlights the Knicks' effective defensive adjustments, particularly their early pressure on Halliburton and containment of Pascal Siakam. This strategy stifled the Pacers' offensive flow and forced turnovers.

Analyst 2 [18:34]: "The Knicks defense, they changed a lot. ... they continuously punched at the Pacers when they were trying to get into things."

Conversely, the Pacers' lack of aggression and inability to adapt their lineup contributed to their downfall in Game 5. The Knicks' deeper rotation allowed their stars to rest, maintaining high energy levels throughout the game.

Analyst 1 [09:57]: "They looked incredibly fresh. ... going deeper into your rotation."

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Shakia Taylor’s Insight on Pacers’ Performance

Shakia Taylor provides an in-depth analysis of the Pacers' underwhelming performance in Game 5. She criticizes the team's lack of aggression and failure to set the game's tone, attributing their struggles to both physical limitations and ineffective strategies.

Shakia Taylor [17:11]: "They came out completely flat. I mean, there was like no aggression, there was no force, there was nothing."

Taylor underscores the importance of defensive discipline and cohesion, noting that even with strategic lineups, the Pacers couldn't overcome the Knicks' dominant play.

Shakia Taylor [19:16]: "I credit the Knicks. Like, the Knicks played incredibly well tonight."

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Can the Knicks Force Game 7?

As the series nears its climax, the hosts ponder the possibility of a Game 7. While many, including the hosts and Shakia Taylor, anticipate the Pacers closing out the series in Game 6, there’s an underlying respect for the Knicks' tenacity and the emerging rivalry between key players like Halliburton and Brunson.

Analyst 1 [23:51]: "It would be a shame if it didn't go seven. ... it's a rivalry brewing between these two teams."

Shakia Taylor highlights the electric atmosphere and the mutual respect between players, suggesting that if the series extends to Game 7, it will be a memorable showdown.

Shakia Taylor [24:32]: "It's been so much fun. ... this series is definitely going to be one that we're talking about next year."

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Conclusion and Looking Ahead

The episode wraps up with a consensus that while the Pacers are favored to win Game 6 and potentially the series, the Knicks have demonstrated the capability to extend the battle to a final, decisive Game 7. The discussion leaves listeners eagerly anticipating the next installment, emphasizing the high stakes and intense competition that define this Eastern Conference Finals matchup.

Analyst 2 [25:54]: "Something about this Knicks team where they just don't make anything easy and I just feel like it's gonna go seven."

Hosts encourage listeners to stay tuned for future episodes, particularly the full-length Saturday Slam n’ Jam with Andrew Schlecht and Alex Spears, which will further dissect the evolving dynamics of the series.

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Key Quotes

• Analyst 2 [02:49]: "The Knicks got it done wire to wire. They did not make it hard. We're going back to Indy."
• Analyst 2 [03:39]: "Playing on a bum knee. And I mean, you would not have noticed it from the way he performed."
• Analyst 1 [04:21]: "The Knicks set the tone like they. They played more physical."
• Analyst 1 [08:28]: "Jalen Brunson only played 33 minutes. He ended up with 32 points, by the way, incredible third quarter from Brunson."
• Shakia Taylor [19:16]: "I credit the Knicks. Like, the Knicks played incredibly well tonight."
• Analyst 1 [23:51]: "It would be a shame if it didn't go seven."
• Shakia Taylor [24:32]: "It's been so much fun. ... this series is definitely going to be one that we're talking about next year."
• Analyst 2 [25:54]: "Something about this Knicks team where they just don't make anything easy and I just feel like it's gonna go seven."

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Final Thoughts

The Athletic NBA Daily delivers a comprehensive and engaging analysis of the Knicks-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals series, balancing statistical breakdowns with insightful commentary. By highlighting player performances, team strategies, and the evolving rivalry, the podcast provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the high-stakes battle unfolding in the NBA playoffs. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual follower, this episode offers valuable perspectives on one of basketball's most compelling series.

Transcript

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[Analyst 2]

Good morning and welcome to the NBA Daily for May 30, 2025. Coming up, Esperaheni and I are going to talk about the Knicks being back. Bing bong. They're 32 going back to Indiana, then Shakia Taylor is going to join us to talk about what went wrong for the Pacer. Buddy. Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks got it done wire to wire. They did not make it hard. We're going back to Indy. The knicks still trail three two in the series, but they pick up a big win. 111, 94, man. Huge game for the Knicks. They did not roll over, unlike the Timberwolves.

[Analyst 1]

They did not. No. And Carl Anthony Towns did not roll over. Yeah, how about that?

[Analyst 2]

Playing on a bum knee. And I mean, you would not have noticed it from the way he performed. And he was the best player on the court every single time he was out there.

[Analyst 1]

Yeah, I thought he was electric, especially at, like, setting the tone early in this game, you know, especially in these type of elimination games. I mean, we just saw it with the Thunder and Timberwolves where it's like you could be out of the game in 12 minutes depending on the energy and vibe you bring to the game. Right. The Knicks set the tone like they. They played more physical. And I know some of that stuff sounds like a cliche, but if you listen to all the post game pressers from basically everybody from the Knicks side, from the Pacer side, they're all talking about physicality and just like, setting the tone initially. Right.

[Analyst 2]

Well, you can see it. I mean, just like, literally, it. It came across the screen. I mean, and if you go back and look at the box score, the. The Pacer starters combined points, that. That shows me that they got punched in the mouth and never recovered. And credit to you, by the way. I'm going to give you credit. You called this, like, I don't know, eight minutes into the game, you said, oh, this is over. It's a wrap. Indy doesn't have it tonight. They did look dead. They look like a team that was just trying to get back to. To Indy. Maybe they're, you know, trying to boost the ticket sales or something, but it really. They just. Low energy night. Tyrese Halberton did not show up 2 for 7 from the field. And, you know, look, we're going to talk about the Knicks defense in a second, but two for seven, that just unacceptable. You know, we went through this a little bit with Anthony Edwards where it was like, hey, sometimes you've got to be the guy to take the shot. But it wasn't like the playmaking was really there either. You know, guys weren't. It wasn't even. It wasn't a great shooting night for them. But also, it wasn't like he was generating looks either.

[Analyst 1]

Yeah, I think with Halle, the interesting thing was how much pressure he was seeing. And early on, like everywhere he went, he saw a body you could see on a couple of possessions. Even off ball when the Pacers were trying to get him going off ball to get him open, they were just switching those actions and it was hard for him to get an opening. And when you're forcing Halle to be more aggressive than he likes to be as a scorer. Yes, he had that incredible game in game four where he went off and I mean, obviously you guys talked about it, the three 30 point triple double with no turnovers, but the, that's not his M.O. consistently. His M.O. is to get people involved. And when he sees bodies like that, it's hard for him to get guys involved because he's being crowded constantly too. So it's. I, I do think it's a mentality thing. That said, we've seen him go off, we've seen him be clutch in moments. He just needs to deliver that one more time for this team to get to the finals. Right.

[Analyst 2]

Yeah, I, you know, I did think that some of the stuff they did early on with Pascal Siakam, you know, when he was getting touches, they were getting, they were getting good offense, but, but overall, the Knicks really just stuffed him. I mean, every single, at every single turn that nothing worked. Even the obi topping minutes, which have provided a lot of juice for, for the Pacers, the Knicks handled it. And, and I think part of this, we gotta chalk it up.

[Analyst 1]

The Pacers tried stuff.

[Analyst 2]

Yeah, they did.

[Analyst 1]

Yeah. Like, they tried Jairus Walker, they tried going for, you know, obviously Bradley got hurt. They attempted to go for different lineups. I thought Jerus Walker was pretty good in his minutes generally, but like, it felt like the Pacers were the team that was searching in this one compared to the Knicks, who, as I'm sure we'll talk about, like, are now leaning on their rotation. You know, Landry Shamit, Delon Wright playing good minutes. Delaun, right, and Landry Shammit are basically like constant positives over the last three games for the Knicks.

[Analyst 2]

Plus 23 games.

[Analyst 1]

Chance in MSG, he got chance. Landry Shammy. And that's just incredible to hear in game five of the Eastern Conference finals. Like, I wouldn't have expected that to be the case, you know.

[Analyst 2]

Yeah, it is funny that we, you know, we, we were ready down three one. You know, we're ready to write off tibs and we're saying, hey, it's the same old tibs, same old problems. He gets to the bench too late and then they buy themselves another chance here. I mean, again, they 10 guys, I mean, they've got 10 guys that, that can play in this series. You mentioned Landry, Shamit, Delon Wright, Precious. Achua gave him big minutes. You know, again, it's that change of pace.

[Analyst 1]

Yeah.

[Analyst 2]

Which the Pacers have had with Obi Toppin, but the Knicks didn't have a guy like that. I just think having a faster big out there like, like Precious helped counteract that at times. And then Josh Hart came off the bench and you know, we've kind of hit on the fact that he's had a rough series, had a great game off the bench, 12 points, 10 rebounds, and made some plays for them too.

[Analyst 1]

This was Josh Hart's best game of the series, undoubtedly. I mean, in that fourth quarter, he was crashing the offensive glass. He was pushing in transition, he was making the plays, he was giving them a second effort on defense. That is the Josh Hart that the Knicks have known. And that player hasn't been there for them this series. I, I think he has really struggled defensively against Pascal Siakam. I mean, it's been a tough matchup for him to try and guard. But this was a great, great game from Hart. And, and the other thing about this, like Jalen Brunson only played 33 minutes. He ended up with 32 points, by the way, incredible third quarter from Brunson, who had 15 in that third quarter. He only played 33 minutes though. So now you go deeper into your six.

[Analyst 2]

It's amazing. They did not, the Knicks did not look exhausted in the fourth quarter. Now part of that was the Pacers. Right. Like the Pacers played way slower than what we were used to seeing out of them. I mean, this was a different thing. And part of that is the, the Knicks were picking them up extremely high, which is something that the Knicks haven't done in the series. So the Pacers weren't able to get into their faster, semi transition half court offense. But just by going into that bench absolutely has given the Knicks a lifeline at the end of games. And this was as fresh as we've seen them look in the fourth quarter all year, maybe much less the playoffs.

[Analyst 1]

No, yeah, they looked incredibly fresh. And I guess like this is a testament to just going deeper into your rotation. We talked about depth and how important that is in the postseason. Like you're seeing that for the Knicks too, like just getting spot minutes. It's not like Landry Sham and Delon Wright are playing 20 minutes a game, but they're playing 10 and 14 minutes, and that is enough to give your stars some rest. I thought also, you know, you held Mitchell Robinson to 20 minutes, which I think is sort of his sweet spot. Like.

[Analyst 2]

Right.

[Analyst 1]

That's the amount of minutes you need to get for him to be at his best. And he was incredible in that third quarter, pressuring Miles Turner, forcing turnovers. You know, the other thing IS Indiana had 19 turnovers tonight. That is incredibly uncharacteristic of who they are generally as a team. That's a credit to the Knicks defense, the pressure that they were applying, like you said, and it just. It made life really, really hard for Indiana tonight.

[Analyst 2]

Yeah. Also, it was the first time for the entire playoffs that the pacers didn't hit 100 points. You know, they just.

[Analyst 1]

Wow.

[Analyst 2]

Yeah, the Knicks won in every single way you could. You know, they shot better, they play better defense. They. They really just. They owned game five. How do you feel like the Pacers need to counter in Game six? I mean, is it just. Is it just play better? I mean, it often is at this point in the series, but. Or do you feel like the Knicks might have figured something out with them?

[Analyst 1]

It was interesting to hear basically in post game, everybody saying, from at least the Pacer side saying, like, they had to match them physically. And that physicality was something that New York brought from the onset. You thought about, like, Karl Anthony Towns and his drives, what they were doing with Halliburton, and basically switching the high pickup points, like you mentioned. The physicality is something Indiana now needs to bring to them. And obviously being at home, being in Indiana, the role players are going to play a little bit better. Aaron Neesmith was off tonight. That's going to be a huge game for him to respond. Andrew Nemhard has not had. I don't think he's had, like, the greatest of series. He's had a couple of good moments overall, but the last couple of games have been tough for him. So this is a big moment for your role players to answer and step up to the call because, like, you're going home. This is an opportunity for them to close out the series. And by the way, Dave, if you don't close out the series now, the pressure is on you. You gotta win in game six, because Game seven in the Garden. And look, they've done it before. Indiana literally won a Game seven in the Garden last year. Sure, but it's not the recipe you want. Down three, one to come back and go to msg. I just think I had to wait out for Indiana.

[Analyst 2]

If they lose that for Halliburton, get him, get him fired up. Something to watch for me for Game six Neesmith in Game four coming back from that ankle injury, I thought he looked great in Game 4. Game 5 didn't look nearly as good. Wasn't moving as well. That's something for me that I'm watching going forward. He's, you know. Yeah, it's hard to say the most important player for the Pacers because who isn't? But he's been pretty important as far as being able to guard Brunson and hit shots on the other end. Guys, stick around. After the break, we'll have Shakia Taylor here to talk about the Pacer side of this and whether or not they played hard enough.

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[Shakia Taylor]

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[Analyst 2]

Foreign. For listeners of the show, you guys probably are aware that me and S and Xena all chose Pacers in six. So did Shakia Taylor. She's here, she's covering the Pacers. Pacers have a chance to go home and close it out in six after what we can only describe as a disappointing performance in game five. Shakia, those guys just, they didn't show up.

[Shakia Taylor]

They came out completely flat. I mean, there was like no aggression, there was no force, there was, there was nothing. They, the game got away from them pretty much right away.

[Analyst 2]

Yeah.

[Shakia Taylor]

You know, in the beginning I was, you know, I thought they weren't playing well, but they proved me right. Even more so as the game went on.

[Analyst 1]

Yeah, I wonder about like just the, the effort to start the game and the physical, like we were talking about the physicality, the tone that New York set. What, what were guys saying post game about kind of setting the tone early and how that was just off tonight.

[Shakia Taylor]

From the Pacer side, Tyrese Halliburton, actually, as he typically does after a game like that, he took it all on himself. I didn't set the tone, I didn't set the pace. I wasn't aggressive. Pascal Siakam, same thing. Like everybody who we heard from tonight, you know, we heard from Halliburton, Siakam, Benedict Matheran, Andrew Nimhard, everyone was saying the exact same thing, is we didn't come out with enough force. We didn't come out aggressively. We let them set the tone, and they controlled it from the beginning, which obviously is a very accurate assessment of the game. Even Rick Carlisle, he gave credit to the Knicks. Like, he, you know, wasn't just putting it on the Pacers playing poorly, but the Knicks played well.

[Analyst 2]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, look, the Knicks defense, they. They changed a lot. You know, they started picking up Halliburton much earlier, you know, trying to force the ball out of his hands. They really just. They. They continuously punched at the Pacers when they were trying to get into things, and it just felt like they couldn't get a rhythm all night. You know, the starters especially. That was. It was their worst game of the playoffs, for sure. It's the worst game I can remember since, like, January. You know, when this. When this group got together, you know, was there anything that. That they pointed to that the Knicks did in particular that threw them off guard, or was it just an off night in their opinion?

[Shakia Taylor]

Halliburton actually said that, you know, that the basics, as far as what the Knicks have been doing was still there. They obviously didn't want to give too much credit to the Knicks for keeping them out of the game. But, I mean, the Knicks defensively, as you already said, never let the Pacers get in rhythm. None of the starters did really well. In fact, the highest score, you know, for the Pacers was Benedict Matheran, who came off the bench. That is a huge deal. Typically, their depth is always a positive, but when the starters cannot get going, the depth of. Doesn't really matter that much.

[Analyst 1]

Yeah, I'm looking at this box score right now, and, like, they obviously, as a team had 19 turnovers, but it was every. Basically every starter other than Tyrese Halliburton had multiple turnovers in this game. Miles Turner had four turnovers, Siakam had three. It. Or he had two, and then Andrew Damhart had three. Taking care of the ball is a very important characteristic for this Pacers team. Do you think that was something more about Indy and their, I guess, focus, if you want to call it, heading into this game, or was that, you know, crediting the Knicks with what they did defensively?

[Shakia Taylor]

I credit the Knicks. Like, the Knicks played incredibly well tonight.

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[Shakia Taylor]

You know, and it's very hard to win a closeout game. It's even harder to win a closeout game in Madison Square Garden.

[Analyst 2]

Oh, yeah, right.

[Shakia Taylor]

Like, you got the energy of the crowd behind the Knicks and the crowd was into it from the beginning of the game. Game. I don't think mentally it looked like the Pacers were playing, you know, the way they normally do, and they let the Knicks dominate the pace of that game completely. You know, Haliburton was like, oh, I didn't get downhill, you know, but I don't even know if given giving too much space.

[Analyst 2]

Yeah, it's more like honestly, the Knicks made him run uphill. That's what it looked like. Right. So instead of him being able to get out and transition and, and you know, credit to the Knicks too. They, the Pacers like to run on makes. The Knicks were getting back on makes. You know, they weren't falling down as much as, you know, on layups and, and seeking the foul calls and stuff. So they were actually able to get back, set the defense. But this is what we expected the Knicks to defend. Like when they, when they got all their people together, you know, it was not like we knew that this was on the table for them. It's more about how do you hold up, you know, with Brunson and Carl Anthony Towns out there. I actually think again, in this game, though, the low energy aspect for the Pacers showed in the fact that they just weren't as aggressive attacking Brunson, attacking Carl Anthony Towns as they have been in, in the rest of the series. I mean, usually those guys are put in. Fred Katz gave the stats like 30 actions a night, pick and roll actions. I, I, it didn't feel that way to the eye test. I haven't seen the, the numbers on it, but just felt like, you know, overall this was a game that, and I, they'll never admit this, but they played like they were just fine with losing it and going home and doing it in six. And Shaquille, I think they're just trying to make us look good.

[Shakia Taylor]

I mean, maybe they were, maybe they weren't. I just know that it, it felt at least, you know, in the arena that the Pacers weren't their usual pesky, speedy selves. I'm so used to seeing them flying around the court, you know, moving very, very fast, and that wasn't happening. TJ McConnell, who I love to point out is really aggravating if you're playing against him, and that's to his credit, that wasn't happening tonight. I think Aaron Neesmith's ankle might be a bit of an issue, you know, and cause him to slow down a little bit because, you know, every time you get on a Plane. That ankle's gonna swell a little bit there. It just was not clicking for the Pacers at all. No matter, you know, what Rick Carlisle was trying to do as far as lineups. Jairus Walker was in the game. In fact, when he hit his three pointer, I think the entire section next to me said, who is that? At the exact same time, like, to Rick Carlisle's credit, he was definitely trying anything and everything to kind of motivate these guys to pick up the pace, to be more aggressive, and it just wasn't happening. I mean, but again, credit to the Knicks.

[Analyst 1]

Yeah, credit to the Knicks. And you know what? I know we all said Pacers and six. I. I just, I feel like this series has been incredible and it would be a shame if it didn't go seven. You know what I mean? Shaki? I guess the, the history of like, Knicks, Pacers and the, I guess obviously the historic rivalry that they have, but also this sort of budding rivalry that they've developed between Halliburton and Brunson. How has that been to watch live through the last five games kind of develop the, the chemistry and the, the battle, the beef. It can't be a beef, but like, it's, it's, you know, it's a rivalry. Rivalry brewing between these two teams.

[Analyst 2]

Yeah.

[Shakia Taylor]

You know what I would say, first of all, it's been so much fun. The energy in both arenas has been incredible. The energy from both teams, with the exception obviously of the Pacers. Tonight has been incredible. It's been hard fought with, like, these games have been close. You know, obviously not counting tonight, they've been close. There's. There's been a ton of. It's like on the court, you can tell, right? Like, everybody wants it, but off the court, in their post game interviews, they clearly respect one another 100%. And that is, I think what's making it even cooler is these guys are like, hey, that guy is amazing. I gotta beat him. We have to beat them especially. There's a lot of love between Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Halliburton that I think is just really dope to see considering the, you know, the trolling that happens on the court. It's been so much fun. I think this series is definitely going to be one that we're talking about next year. As far as it going seven, if you're the Pacers, you don't want that. That cannot happen. I, I think they have to absolutely win at home, you know, game six, close it out.

[Analyst 1]

Because as pressure on them now, right?

[Analyst 2]

Yeah.

[Shakia Taylor]

Pressure's on them. They need to close the door. They need to go out and they need to dominate, you know, from the opening tip of the game. Because if they don't, I don't know that they come back to Madison Square Garden and, and make it happen. I really don't like. I know that it's the Knicks who are on the brink of elimination, but it feels very much so like game six could put the Pacers, you know, in that, in that very tough spot.

[Analyst 1]

Precarious.

[Analyst 2]

As much as I would love for us to all be right, God, it feels like it's just gonna go seven. I just. Something about this Knicks team where they just don't make anything easy and I just feel like it's gonna go seven. So, Shakia, maybe we'll talk to you after game seven next week. We'll see how it goes. That's going to do it for the show. Go and read Shakia over at the Athletics. She's been doing a great job covering the Pacers, you know, pinch hitting there and honestly, like looking forward to what you write as we head into the finals. If the Pacers make it there, I don't want to jinx it either way. I don't know if you want more work or not. Thank you very much, Shakia, for being on the show. Thanks to esperahenny. I'm Dave defore. This has been the NBA Daily. Thanks for waking up with us.

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No.

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