Three keys to watch in Knicks-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals

Throughout this season, it was viewed as a foregone conclusion that the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers would be facing each other in the Eastern Conference Finals.

However, it is the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers playing for a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.

What will be the deciphering factors between New York and Indiana? Here are the keys to the Eastern Conference Finals matchup.

Indiana's pace and taking advantage of its depth

Indiana is one of the deepest and fastest teams in the NBA this season, and it has shown during these playoffs.

In the postseason, most teams shorten their rotations, playing only a couple of players off the bench. Not the Pacers. Head coach Rick Carlisle has continued to rely on a 10-man rotation, and it is exhausting their opponents.

Despite being the one seed in the East, Cleveland was no match for Indiana's high-tempo offense and pressing defense.

The Pacers' depth can cause issues for the Knicks, who depend heavily on their starting five.

Because Indiana can operate in so many different combinations and rotations, when the offense is rolling, the production comes in overwhelming waves.

Tyrese Haliburton and this offense love to push the tempo and force pressure on their opponents in transition. 

This factor could cause significant problems for the Knicks, who could face foul trouble early and often during this series.

Can Karl-Anthony Towns stay out of foul trouble?

This somewhat correlates with the last point about Indiana's pace of play.

The Knicks can slow down the Pacers if they make shots, limiting Indiana's ability to get out and run off the boards.

It is almost inevitable that the Pacers will score in transition, and when that happens, Towns must remain disciplined and not commit needless fouls.

The 29-year-old center has picked up at least four fouls in all but one game during this postseason.

New York may get away with that against the inexperienced Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics, who lost Jayson Tatum to a season-ending Achilles tear, but that lack of discipline will not cut it against a team with as much depth as Indiana.

If Towns' impact is diminished because he is on the bench with foul trouble, New York will fall behind quickly.

Which team can control the glass and supply second-chance points?

While speaking with the media, Carlisle explained the importance of interior play against New York.

"They've got great individual rebounders," Carlisle said. "They've got a lot of tenacity with how they do it, and they have a real system for doing it, and when they got second shots, their efficiency levels are unprecedentedly high, and so, rebounding the ball is going to be an enormous key to the series."

The Knicks outrebounded the Celtics 233-221 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, which helped New York overcome double-digit deficits and prevail over Boston.

Mitchell Robinson has been monumental off the bench, averaging 6.8 rebounds in limited action.

Josh Hart is also a contributor on the glass, averaging 8.5 rebounds in 12 games this postseason.

Indiana thrives on creating surplus opportunities off the glass, and the Knicks can control the tempo by controlling the boards on both ends of the court.