New York - This is something Tom Thibodeau often repetitions, but for Joe's good reasons.

Coach Knicks provides a constant reminder that in order for his team to win, it is necessary to play hard on the court for a full 48 minutes, which the Knicks always do throughout the regular season or playoffs.

But it's exactly what they're going to do to get the Knicks to beat the Indiana Pacers and make it to the NBA Finals.

These Nicks have something special. They are scrolling. They played some of the best basketballs in the playoffs.

But their series against defending champion Boston Celtics ended in six games, showing that these Knicks are vulnerable. The Celtics are a team that is alive and dead, unable to play any of the first two games, but still maintained a 20-point lead in both games before the Knicks made an amazing comeback.

Then we all saw what happened in Game 5 – the Celtics won the tandem burst victory with the Knicks in Game 6, another game Boston struggled from a long distance struggle.

From start to finish, the Knicks defended at a high level - they were in control throughout the entire 48 minutes.

"We knew we had to play 48 minutes on them," Thibodore said after the game. "They were great on both sides of the ball. They would play their own style anyway. They wouldn't give you anything. You have to make money, and I thought we did."

Pacers are the Knicks' challenge in the Eastern Conference Finals

Now there are different types of tests.

The walker is deep. Coach Rick Carlisle deployed a rotation that could be expanded to up to 11 players. Indiana wears the team. It's fast. In the regular season, the Pacers averaged 39.8 points per game. By comparison, the Knicks averaged 21.7.

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Thibodeau's rotation is not very deep. The Knicks don't have this luxury.

How the Knicks beat the Pacers in this series

The Knicks can’t stand stretching in a defensive problem, communication breakdown or just plain effort. They can't afford to have bad third quarters, a problem that can sometimes cost them throughout the season.

There is no doubt that the Knicks have a game to beat the Pacers and make it to the finals. Jalen Brunson seems to play his best when the spotlight is brightest and the stage is the biggest. Mikal Bridges stepped up the game in the playoffs, as did Anunoby. Karl-Anthony Town has been inconsistent, but when he plays at a high level, he usually has good answers.

Josh Hart did it all for the Knicks, and Mitchell Robinson's defense could be changing the game.

The Knicks will need everyone in this series. The Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton set the tone, while Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner are the main weapons in the frontcourt. Aaron Nesmith shot 48.2% from the field in the playoffs.

Like the Celtics, the Pacers have many weapons. But unlike the Celtics, they don't rely on three-point shooting percentage to win.

If the Knicks will win this series, they will need a consistent 48-minute show.

There is a reason why Thibodeau does this often.

This Knicks can't afford it.

fundamental.