Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks
Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks

The One Team The Knicks Still Haven't Solved With Locked On Pacers

September 15, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Indiana Pacers have been the one team the New York Knicks still haven't fully solved, even after winning a championship. Host Gavin Shaw and Tony East of Locked On Pacers break down why the Pacers remain a unique threat in the Eastern Conference, how their style of play specifically stresses the Knicks' personnel, and what changes with Myles Turner replaced by Vika Zubac at center. The conversation is built around a shared curiosity: both teams have evolved since their last playoff meeting, and both want to see that matchup happen again.

The Pacers' Stylistic Problem for the Knicks

The core of Indiana's threat is not just talent but a specific, relentless style of offense that stresses defenses in ways most teams cannot replicate. Tony East describes it as a system built on "random action to action stuff that to us is hard to predict to them is very easy and natural." The Pacers excel at putting a defense in motion—multiple passes, cuts, and handoffs per possession—forcing rotations until a breakdown occurs. This was particularly problematic for the Knicks because it put direct pressure on Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns as a defensive duo. As Shaw notes, "Two passes and one cut later, it's like, okay, everybody's guarding somebody else and you know they're on their fifth action of a possession."

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:56) **The Pacers-Knicks Rivalry Revisited** - The hosts set up the conversation: why the Pacers remain a significant threat to the Knicks, and how the shift from Myles Turner to Vika Zubach changes Indiana's identity.
  • 2 (04:36) **The Pacers' Signature Stress Offense** - Detailed breakdown of how Indiana’s system creates defensive chaos, moving a defense through multiple actions per possession.
  • 3 (05:59) **The Zubach Conundrum on Offense** - The central tension: Zubach is a better screener and roller than Turner, but he lacks the shooting gravity that made the old system work.
  • 4 (07:58) **Zubach vs. Turner on Defense** - A direct comparison of how the two centers change Indiana’s defensive ceiling and approach.
  • 5 (09:44) **Pacers' Confidence and Vindication** - Assessment of the team's mentality after a season of injuries, bad lottery luck, and seeing their rival win a title.
  • 6 (14:59) **The Knicks' Transformation Under Mike Brown** - How the Knicks' shift to Mike Brown changes the potential matchup, moving from Thibodeau's short rotation to a deeper, more adaptable team.
  • 7 (16:51) **The KAT Factor** - Why Carl Anthony Towns is the biggest difference maker for the Knicks in a potential rematch.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Gavin Shaw Tony East

Show Notes

The Indiana Pacers remain a dangerous threat in the East as Ivica Zubac’s arrival sparks questions about their future.

Can Tyrese Haliburton and Zubac’s pick-and-roll game power the Pacers past rivals like the New York Knicks? Gavin Schall and Tony East break down how Zubac’s skillset shifts Indiana’s offensive identity, impacts their defensive versatility, and what it means for the Pacers’ playoff ambitions—especially with Myles Turner gone and new faces like Kelly Oubre adding depth.

The conversation spotlights Karl-Anthony Towns’ emergence, Knicks’ coaching change to Mike Brown, and Mitchell Robinson’s departure in favor of Andre Drummond. What does this mean for the Knicks’ rebounding edge and championship repeat chances? The debate covers lineup adjustments, OG Anunoby’s offensive growth, and how both teams might exploit their new strengths in a potential playoff clash. Will the Pacers reclaim their status or are the Knicks set to dominate the East again?

Timestamps

00:00 Impact of Ivica Zubac on Indiana

03:54 Are the Pacers the same threat with a new offense?

08:48 Does Indiana still think they're better than the Knicks?

11:36 Pacers' Confidence and Depth

14:30 NBA Eastern Conference playoff run discussion

19:24 Nembhard ready for a leap

23:33 The Knicks are different now

25:31 Impact of losing Mitchell Robinson

30:00 Knicks strategy and adaptability

31:05 Closing thoughts with Tony East

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