“Mister Supposed Fake Wannabe All-Star.”
That was the jibe from MSG Network analyst Wally Szczerbiak in December 2022, directed at Tyrese Haliburton. The context? A race between him and Jalen Brunson for an All-Star spot. Szczerbiak clearly believed Brunson was the rightful choice, but Haliburton got the nod.
Fast forward to that summer, and Brunson and Haliburton were competing for the starting point guard role on Team USA at the FIBA World Cup. This time, Brunson got the start, but Haliburton outplayed him, which likely influenced his selection to the Olympic squad, leaving Brunson off. So while it wasn’t quite a direct head-to-head competition, the stakes were similar.
Throughout the current NBA season, the question of who was the best guard in the Eastern Conference saw both names repeatedly in the conversation—Haliburton early in the season, Brunson later on, with a splash of Donovan Mitchell in between. Despite no personal animosity, these two have been in a sort of quiet rivalry, reminiscent of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone’s 1980s movie standoffs.
Now Brunson and Haliburton will meet in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and this matchup between the Knicks and Pacers is a fascinating study in contrasting styles. Haliburton, at 6-foot-5, is a dynamic distributor, excelling in transition, and leading the NBA in assists. Brunson, at 6-foot-1, is a master of half-court play, using his strength and footwork to create scoring opportunities.
Given their respective strengths, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that whoever plays better could be the deciding factor in the series. However, like in the first round against the Sixers, Brunson and Haliburton might not guard each other much. In their three regular-season games, Indiana primarily used Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith to guard Brunson, but it didn’t go well—the Knicks point guard averaged 35.7 points while shooting 49% over those games.
Haliburton, on the other hand, posted solid numbers against New York with 19.7 points and 13.3 assists per game, including a memorable staredown of Szczerbiak after a December win.
While the Brunson-Haliburton matchup will grab headlines, there are other storylines to follow in this Knicks-Pacers series:
Haste vs. Relaxed: Indiana’s fast-paced offense is a complete contrast to New York’s slow, methodical style. The Pacers’ 102.2 possessions per game was the second-fastest pace in the league, leading to a league-high 123.3 points per game. The Knicks, however, were the slowest at 95.95 possessions. In the playoffs, where the pace generally slows, this could give New York an advantage.
Former Raptors Showdown: OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam were teammates for over six years in Toronto, winning a championship together. Now they’re likely to face off as opponents, with Anunoby being the Knicks’ most versatile defender and Siakam possibly the Pacers’ best player from their first-round win over the Bucks.
Obi Reunion: Obi Toppin, the Knicks’ highest draft pick under Leon Rose, was traded to Indiana and is coming off a stellar 21-point performance in the Pacers’ first-round Game 6 win. His stint with the Knicks was underwhelming, and his relationship with coach Tom Thibodeau was strained. How he performs against his old team will be intriguing.
History of Hatred: This series revives memories of the heated Knicks-Pacers rivalry from the ’90s, with Reggie Miller’s choke sign, Spike Lee’s antagonism, and Patrick Ewing’s infamous finger roll. The “Hicks vs. Knicks” saga continues, bringing nostalgia and intensity to this high-stakes matchup.
