Paul Pierce Believes Knicks Are Overhyped: 'Pacers Gonna Pop Y’all'

Paul Pierce has never been shy with his takes, but his latest shot at the New York Knicks after they eliminated his beloved Boston Celtics from the playoffs is raising eyebrows once again. Appearing on air after the Knicks’ 4-2 series win over Boston, Pierce delivered a bold prediction heading into the Eastern Conference Finals: 

"Y'all, New York is up, all that. Pacers gonna pop y'all though. Y'all know that, right? Yeah, I know that. The Pacers is gonna get y'all, so I don't even want to hear all that. Y'all feeling good. Y'all beat us." 

"Y'all beat an injured Celtics team. Y'all beat an injured Celtics team, bro. We didn't have our All-NBA player, first team, MVP candidate who led us in all these categories." 

Fans were quick to respond, mocking Pierce for his ongoing bitterness toward the Knicks and his repeated failure to give them credit. After all, the Knicks were already up in Game 4 before Tatum’s injury, and they had won Games 1 and 2 in Boston fair and square. They earned their second-round win through elite defense, second-chance points, and Jalen Brunson’s MVP-caliber shot-making.

Still, Pierce’s confidence in the Indiana Pacers isn’t without merit. The Pacers have been steamrolling the Eastern Conference bracket. 

First, they dismantled the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, then stunned the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished the regular season with 64 wins, in another gentleman’s sweep. Tyrese Haliburton has been electric, leading a high-octane offense that thrives on pace, transition threes, and unselfish ball movement.

Indiana has plenty of weapons outside of Haliburton, too. Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, and Andrew Nemhard all bring different dimensions to the team, and their depth and speed present a real challenge to a Knicks squad that often grinds out wins with physicality and half-court execution.

There’s also history between these two franchises. The Pacers knocked the Knicks out in seven games just last year in the 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals, a fact Knicks fans haven’t forgotten. The 2025 East Finals will be a revenge series for New York, and despite Pierce’s sarcasm, it promises to be an even battle.

Pierce, of course, hasn’t exactly been the most credible forecaster lately. Earlier this postseason, he guaranteed a Celtics win in Game 2 and famously declared on FS1’s Speak that if Boston lost, he would walk 15 miles barefoot to the studio in a robe. 

The Knicks won that game 91-90, and social media hasn’t let him forget his outrageous bet. His own vomit-emoji response on X (formerly Twitter) about the walk only added to the spectacle.

For Knicks fans, Pierce’s trolling only adds fuel to their fire. With Tatum out, Jaylen Brown inconsistent, and Kristaps Porzingis already sidelined, New York took full advantage and punched their ticket to their first Conference Finals since 2000.

Now the Knicks have their shot at revenge against Indiana, and if they can continue their dominant play, they may just silence Paul Pierce and every other doubter once and for all.