The New York Knicks versus the Indiana Pacers is another chapter in the Pacers-Knicks rivalry. I can tell you that this will be a drop down, drag out seven game affair. The Knicks are probably the only team in the east that are as deep as the Pacers. The Pacers are led by Mark Jackson, Rik Smits and Knicks killer Reggie Miller. The Knicks rely on Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell and Patrick Ewing. Those men are the key. At the point, Mark Jackson will try to post Charlie Ward and Chris Childs. But the Knicks will counter with Sprewell on defense. Sprewell is taller that Ward and Childs and stronger. This will stop Jackson killing the Knicks from the post. But Reggie will then be guarded by Ward and Childs, and neither are tall enough or strong enough to stop Reggie. If the Knicks go without a point guard, and play Houston and Sprewell together, than you've got good matchups, except no point guard. Jalen Rose will try to counteract Sprewell coming off the bench. Larry Bird will play Rose at 1, 2 or 3, depending on where Bird sees the best matchup. At the three, Chris Mullin is still a great shooter. Larry Johnson is becoming a good shooter. Neither really rebounds well, anymore, and both basically make their living on the wing waiting for the kick out pass. The Pacers can come with the aforementioned Rose at 3 as well as defensive stopper Derrick McKey, who is playing well. McKey can still bring it at the defensive end, so he can be a force in this series. The Knicks often play Sprewell at small forward, so look for Rose and McKey to attempt to play Sprewell at this position, when LJ moves to power forward. At the power forward position, the Pacers are deep. Antonio Davis and Dale Davis are as tenacious rebounders and defensive players as you will find in the NBA. Dale Davis will give a bit more scoring, but you know what you're going to get with them. Both will bang and lean on Marcus Camby. The Davises are quick but might not be quick enough to guard Camby. They are certainly strong e nough. Kurt Thomas brings 10 minutes at the beginning of the game, nothing more. He's 4 fouls waiting to happen. I think the LJ versus Antonio Davis at power forward matchup will be interesting. When the Knicks go small and play Ward/Childs, Houston and Sprewell, LJ moves over to power forward, look for the Pacers to play both Davises, to counter quickness. Antonio Davis is quick enough to guard LJ and strong enough to move him off the block. At center, the Knicks have Patrick Ewing, who is more banged up than the former Hoya warrior will even let the media know. He still can bring it, but he's taking a lesser role, more because he can't play 35 minutes a game anymore, he's just too injured. Chris Dudley is playing well, who would have thunk it? He's banging, playing good defense and rebounding. He should have an easy time pushing Rik Smits around, and tends to play better man-to-man defense than Ewing. Marcus Camby often gets time at the center position. I think he'll get even more time here, bec ause Smits isn't a power center. Smits is finesse and tall. Camby should be able to match finesse and speed and make Smits work hard. Dale Davis will pound whoever is playing for the Knicks. Sam Perkins brings an outside shot to the center spot. When he comes in, the Knicks centers better look for the outside shot. Larry Bird is a good coach. He knows how to motivate his players, although he may not be the best x's and o's guy. Jeff Van Gundy is finally playing Camby and Sprewell and playing an up-tempo style of offense. Van Gundy is a stubborn coach, but at least he realized when Ewing got hurt, he needed to change and it's been successful. I think this will be a war, and these teams are evenly matched. Deep teams, with a lot of playoff experience. The Knicks are playing great and the Pacers are a sweeping machine. I think the Pacers experience and Reggie Miller will win in 7.