Playoffs 2000:Pacers must get past Knicks to reach Finals

Pacers must get past Knicks to reach Finals
Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- In what has become almost an annual spring tradition, the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks will meet in the NBA playoffs.

It will be the sixth series between the two Eastern Conference teams in eight seasons. Last year, the eighth-seeded Knicks ousted Indiana in six games in the conference finals -- something Indiana is hoping won't become a tradition.

"They made it a bitter summer for us last year by the way they ended our season," Jalen Rose said after Sunday's practice. He had just learned New York defeated Miami 83-82 in Game 7 of their semifinal series.

Game 1 in the best-of-seven conference finals is Tuesday night at Conseco Fieldhouse.

"It will be nice to put them out of their misery this year, but you've got to go one game at a time," Rose said.

The teams split their four meetings during the regular season, with each winning twice on their home court.

The Pacers have the home-court advantage, with four of the seven possible games in their own building, after compiling the best record in the conference.

"To the Pacers that's very important, because that's the advantage we have," said Rose, who was Indiana's leading scorer against New York with an 18.2 average for the four games this season.

However, the Pacers had home-court advantage last year and still dropped Games 1 and 5 in Indianapolis.

"We want to come out ready and try to establish our home court in the first two games. They're going to be very important to establish the tempo for this series," Rose said.

The Pacers are in the conference finals for the fifth time in seven years. But they have never advanced to the NBA Finals.

"We've been here. We're not excited. We understand what it is to be here, and it's just about getting over the hump," Rose said.

The rivalry between the Knicks and Pacers has consistently found Reggie Miller in the middle, either by making big shots or struggling when his team needed him the most.

"I think it is going to be a beautiful series," said Miller, whose 25-point average in this year's playoffs fueled the Pacers past Milwaukee and Philadelphia in the first two rounds.

"I think in the back of everyone's mind, we all knew that New York would win that ballgame (against Miami). We're excited about the opportunity to play seven games, and go on to the finals."

Miller admitted his team wanted to meet New York again.

"Deep down, we wanted to see a rematch. It was a great heavyweight fight," Miller said. "We know that they're very confident because they've been able to beat us. We feel the same way. We're hungry. The good thing is we get to play right away. Last year, a week off (after sweeping Philadelphia) kind of killed us."

Indiana compiled a league-best 36-5 record at home during the regular season.

"They are a good road team," Miller said of the Knicks, adding that he and his teammates will need to pick up their game from the opening two rounds.

"Milwaukee and Philadelphia were nice, but it is going to take a lot more effort to beat them," Miller said. "I hate them, but I respect them. You've got to respect a team like that. They've got a lot of good players."

The Pacers spent much of Sunday afternoon watching the New York-Miami game on television.

"It was a great game, two teams going to war. We felt like an NCAA team waiting to see where we were going to play," Pacers guard Mark Jackson said. "It was good to know we were there. ... Two great teams that went to the wire, and now we look forward to New York coming to town."