Back the Knicks to postpone Indiana's party

16May 2013

NBA

While the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies await their NBA Conference finals opponents, Sumeet Paul takes a closer look at the teams hoping to advance on Thursday night...

Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks

The Indiana Pacers are on the cusp of reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2004, and know a win in New York will clinch a showdown with Miami.

The Knicks have been hopeless offensively for the majority of this series, with both Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith falling way below their high regular season standards.

As a team, they average 88.3 points per game on 41.2% shooting, but it is difficult to envisage them not producing a better display given that their hopes are on the line.

The Pacers defence has played a significant role in their slump, and Paul George and Roy Hibbert have been immense at protecting the paint as their ability to out- rebound their rivals has been integral to their success.

However, it's now "do or die" as Anthony says, and backed by a raucous MSG faithful back the Knicks to force this series into Game 6 with a confident rather than desperate performance.

San Antonio Spurs @ Golden State Warriors

The Spurs lead this series 3-2, but in order to book their place in the Western Conference finals they will have to do what neither team have been able to do thus far; win consecutive games.

It is becoming slightly more apparent that the Spurs' post-season know-how is coming to the fore, while a banged-up Golden State struggle through with niggling injuries to key players.

Both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, so devastating in the playoffs so far, had a forgettable night in Game 5 as the Spurs set up a much improved defense.

Add to that their ability to get contributions across the roster, and San Antonio are rightly favourites to wrap this series up.

While you can never count out the Warriors given their youthful determination and ability to heat up from beyond the arc, it may well be the end of the road for their playoff ambitions.

Recommended Bets

Back over 179.5 pts in Pacers-Knicks @ 1.98

Back the Spurs to beat the Warriors @ 1.9