Stephen A. Smith Delivers Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton Verdict Before ECF

Stephen A. Smith delivers Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton verdict

There might not be a team hotter than the Knicks right now.

While the series went to six games, the Knicks were always the more composed team in crunch time. They also don't allow early deficits to bother them, as illustrated multiple times in the Celtics series.

On the other side is the Pacers, who made quick work of a hobbled Cleveland Cavaliers team.

One analyst particularly excited about the upcoming series is Stephen A. Smith, who is well-known for his Knicks fandom.

On Monday, Smith compared Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton.

"[Jalen] Brunson is [a superstar]. Not [Tyrese] Haliburton... he is not overrated, he can play and he can close... but he's not a superstar," Smith said. "... [Hali] isn't asked to do as much to carry [the Pacers'] offense as Brunson does.

"To have that load, on the biggest stage and answer the call the way he has, averaging 36 a game after losses in the postseason. ... To be the Clutch Player of the Year, to be a closer, he's clearly a superstar in this game."

Facing the Pacers in the Playoffs is nothing new for the Knicks. This will be the ninth time in the Knicks' history that they've played the Pacers in the playoffs.

The teams first met in 1993. If this series goes like any traditional "Hicks versus Knicks" series and brings even a quarter of the drama, it has a chance to be a playoff round for the ages.