RIVALRY RENEWED 👏 Is MSG the biggest factor in Pacers-Knicks? 🗽 + QUESTIONING the 76ers 🤔 | Get Up

RIVALRY RENEWED 👏 Is MSG the biggest factor in Pacers-Knicks? 🗽 + QUESTIONING the 76ers 🤔 | Get Up

between these two teams and that is the rivalry that is renewed tomorrow night. But as you pointed out in our meeting this morning, Allan, there is more recent history between these two as well. Absolutely is. When you consider they had a sevengame series last season, one that the Knicks took a 20- lead. That game three was one of the great game threes you’ll ever see when it comes to a team facing the potential of being down 03. And then the Knicks were seconds away from it until Nemar hit a great shot. Then this thing goes to seven. Why? Knicks had a couple of injuries. They had a game seven where they were barely they were put together by gum and glue in this game. Josh Hart’s playing with an injury, but you saw Tyrese Hallebertton give you a little bit of that Reggie Miller feel. Walked in the building into Madison Square Garden for a game seven wearing that shirt with Reggie Miller with the choke sign and he put up a great performance. Hit six threes in that game. Talking to the crowd, was that his moment that he became a Garden Villa? Advantage Indiana coming off of last season. These are two teams that weren’t supposed to be here all year long. We were talking about Boston and Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals. Funny thing happened on the way to this point. It’s the Knicks and the Pacers. And here’s what Stephen A. Smith was saying yesterday about the Pacers coming back to Madison Square Garden. There is a different flavor, a different vibe that forces the opposition at times to shrink. Okay. And I believe that that is what is going to happen in this series when it counts most. It’s interesting really, right? Madison Square Garden is the biggest stage in the sport for as bad as the Knicks have generally been for the last quarter of a century. It does remain like they’ll say it’s like playing Broadway and and I think it sort of it it separates players. Has been my experience watching it. There are some guys who love it, who rise to that, and there are some, as Stephen A is saying, who do shrink on that stage. Yeah, it’s man, the garden, like I I had a small stint there, right? We didn’t make the playoffs, but the one thing that I admired is every night is sold out. Every night is sold out. So, you have to come. Like, these fans are into every game. But this stage right here is like it’s immaculate. like having all the the the the the superstars on on the front row and like having all the Knicks greats just come out like it’s it’s it’s a different feeling. But as a player, if I’m Tyrese Hallebert, if I’m Pais, if I’m Seiakum, I want to play my best. This is this is what I’ve been waiting for right here to to implement my name as one of the greatest Indiana Pacers to go into the garden right now and when everybody counted us out and be able to win this series like how do you look at the Indiana Pacers after that? Well, what yeah go. He has had brilliant games in the Garden and he has had terrible games. Talk about Hallebertton. Yeah, Hallebertton. Because I think it’s everything with him, right? It all starts with him because the crowd already feels a certain way about him and they are giving him a little bit of that Reggie Miller treatment that only if you think about it since Reggie Miller only Trey Young has felt this only he has felt this but Tyrese Hallebertton starting to his his game one in that series last year awful his game two brilliant he hit seven threes his game five the Knicks took a 3-2 lead in the series his game five he was terrible in that game I mean really bad but his seven that is the one that you wonder does he build off of that knowing I’ve had success in this building. I’ve clinched a series in this building and does he generate more of that Reggie Miller energy in this series and turned it into even more drama like we remember from the ’90s. So, I want to give credit to our man Brian Winhorse. So, at the very beginning of the playoffs, literally the the day the playoffs were starting, all of our analysts will send in notes. I was reading his notes and his notes on Indiana were this is a title contender masquerading. No, hiding in plain sight because they got off to such a bad start this season. They were never one of the top seeds. They were never taken as seriously as they should have been. Going back to the beginning of January, they have been as good as any team in the East. Maybe as good as any team in the NBA or close to it. They have stamped through these playoffs running through Milwaukee and Giannis, running through Cleveland. Who has the advantage in your mind as this series opens tomorrow night? The Knicks or the Pacers? I gotta go with that home court in in the garden. Like I think that’s the difference in this series. I think I think guys will I think that I think the guys from from New York understands the mission right here. Like they haven’t been in this spot in so long, right? Like we need guys like Kent to to to really step up and really show that he’s one of the best bigs in the league. He’s averaging 19 and 11 right now during the playoffs. He has to take that up during the regular season. He’s a 24 and a 13 guy. Like he has to play to that style of basketball. And I think if you could get him to play at that level, I think the Knicks win this series. You saw that in game six. Destiny and Faith are not just dancers of Rick Cabaret. It is also something that the Knicks are feeling right now. This this team is feeling that right now. And that’s why I agree with you. And I feel like there’s there is a revenge factor here. A little bit of one. They remember what happened. The Knicks know Brunson got hurt in game seven. Heart was hurt. Ojobi had no hamstring. They didn’t have Mitchell Robinson. They look back at that series and say, “We weren’t whole. We’re whole now.” The Knicks say they are fully healthy. And when they are fully healthy, they feel like they can beat anyone. And the the other part of it that you have to add without trying to say what the Pace have done has been remarkable. But in the last two playoff years, the series they have won, they have beaten injured teams. The Cavaliers, they weren’t healthy. They were all banged up. So, that is also something to think about. They’ve beaten the Bucks twice. They’ve been banged up. The Knicks were banged up last year. They face a fully healthy team for the first time since they faced the Celtics. How does that match up? And can the Knicks take advantage of it? Quick final word. But I think Indiana is different than every team that’s been in the playoffs. They are a real team. They’re not predicated on one guy getting a basket or two guys getting. They’re predicated on everyone playing well. Like, they can play 10 guys. No other team in this playoff can do that. So, I think they do uh show problems to the Knicks because they definitely struggled with uh Detroit Pistons early and we seen how that team aspect can be something a little shaky for the Knicks. Look, the history of this rivalry is epic. I have a feeling this series is going to be epic as well. Our Jonathan Gavon has an article on ESPN.com and he had very interesting insights into the plans the 76ers have for the draft. Remember, they got in the lottery the third pick. I can already see your face. This is what Devon wrote. He wrote, “Some teams expect the Sixers to be active in trade conversations with names such as Kevin Durant and Lorie Markin as potential targets in packages that could include Paul George and the number three pick.” Marcus, why did you react that way when we began this? Because I’m just tired of the Sixers just trying to do so much, right? Like can’t you already switch guys out in and out? You just had uh James Hart, now you got Paul George. Like are you going to bring Kevin Durant here and it doesn’t work? Now what happens if that don’t work? Now, now let’s get a healthy. Let’s focus on that first before we talk about going to get a guy like Kevin Durant. And you’ve seen what happened in Phoenix. I’m not sure if that’s a better situation. Giving up the three pick when Joel Embiid is got really not much left, not much tread left on the tire. It’s clear, right? Getting him healthy and keeping him healthy is a challenge at this point. They are stuck with that contract. You’re not moving it, but giving up a three pick. Tyrese Max is a young player and he’s a dynamic player. Wouldn’t you? Jire McCain before the injury looked like he had a a future. You’re going to give away a future core like that to just try once again to chase a championship for Embiid. That makes no sense. Bottom line, I’m going to do some math. Sometimes we do math on this show, Marcus. We do some math. Okay. So, a healthy Joel Embiid. Yeah. Plus Tyrese Maxi plus Kevin Durant next year equals what in the Eastern Conference? I would say championship. Yeah. But the the main factor is Joel and be being healthy. Like I don’t even think you have to add Kevin Durant. I think Jo I think you have to start there. Like you have you you you can’t just jump and say let’s let’s get this guy. Let’s get this guy. You have a great core. But but that’s not really optional, right? Like is that even just starting with a healthy Joel Embiid? I’m out of the room. I just walked out like like just start with that part that that has never happened before. You got to write that in pencil and it’ll be erased before you finish writing it like that. He’s never healthy. The franchise has to accept where they are with him and look at going forward and sort of drag him along. This is almost late 90s Knicks with Patrick Euing where Patrick Euing was just there was not much gas left in the tank. So they got free well, they got Houston, they got Larry J. They tried to just build a team where he’s just doesn’t have to be the centerpiece. The same thing has to be done in Philadelphia. Giving up that three pick makes no sense. All right, we’ll see if that’s what winds up happening. Again, all eyes are going to be on Giannis. All eyes are going to be on KD and other bigname stars once we get to free agency. In the meantime, we got game one of the Western Conference Finals tonight. Top seated Thunder hosting the Timberwolves. We talked about the Superstar Showdown. It’s 8:30 Eastern on ESPN. Countdown crew tips off your night. 7:30 Eastern tonight right here on ESPN. Factor Fiction is our next game. Hey, Marcus Morris. If I said Anthony Edwards is the best player remaining in the playoffs, is that fact or fiction? Fact, 23 years old, playoff resume that he has already knocking down Giants like convincingly and getting his guys to buy in at that age does it for me, man. I I’m with you. SGA is the MVP and he deserves it. But I’m ready for this guy to elevate in the next couple of weeks. Allan, next. If I said the Warriors should go all in to get Giannis, fact or fiction? It sounds nice, but it’s fiction. Here’s why. How do you add a $50 million player to a team that already has Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler making tons of money and still have depth? They need a center. That’s what they need. And to stay healthy, but to start ripping up a roster to add a $50 million player for star chasing, that doesn’t make sense for the Warriors. All right, we can debate that one another time. Meanwhile, Marcus, if I were to say the Celtics championship window closed last week, is that fact or fiction? Fiction. I don’t I I’m a big fan of Brad Stevens and what he possibly can put together around uh Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown. I looking at Jaylen Brown to take a big step next year while Jason Tatum is rehabbing. I think it’s fiction. I think they still have a shot. Yeah, I I think perhaps looking down the road in a retoled roster around those two guys. Probably not immediately. And that brings us to this. Let’s put the full screen up there if we can. D15, there are four teams left in the playoffs. And based on who they are, we are guaranteed to have our seventh different NBA champion in the last seven seasons. This will be the first time in NBA history, and this is a league that goes back to the late 40s. First time in history that there will be seven different champions in a seven season span. That is quite a remarkable note when you look at it. Does it suggest that dynasties that super teams are officially dead in the NBA? I wanted to bring in Trager and Bart on this because they’ve all got opinions and everyone’s got a take. But I’m looking right at you, Alan Han. You’re my talk show host compadre. Are super teams dynasties dead in the NBA? No, this is just a lull right now. This is seven years a long l. It is a long lull. It’s a little dormcancy right now. But I do believe that there’s a there are new ones forming built a little differently. Not like in the old days or in the recent days where stars come together in free agency. I think the Oklahoma City Thunder could be on the verge of being the next dynasty. They are a young team. They are all draft players that you put together and they have been 60- win teams for back-to-back seasons. They are on their way to maybe winning a championship this year and that could start for them a a new dynasty. One of those teams you got to beat every year if you want to win a championship. Marcus, what do you think? I play devil’s advocate to that because what if they don’t win? Do they swing big and get some of them young guys out of there and get a veteran in there that can kind of piece it all together, right? And does that become a super Sam Prey panic? I don’t think it’s a panic. I don’t think it’s a panic, but like you have to have a window with these young guys. Like how long is that window open before you say, “Okay, let’s chase down one of these big guys and and form them with SGA and put some pieces around that.” So, I don’t think they’re dead. I think he said they’re at a low right now, but they definitely build through the draft. If if you talk about OKC two times, right? Like they that was almost a dynasty with Russell Westbrook James, but but then it comes to an end if they don’t win, right? You have to pay him. So, I think you have to keep an eye on that. Think about Golden State was built through the draft for the most part Kevin Durant though, right? So I think we’re talking about organic and inorganic dynasties, right? Because you talk about organic um is built through the draft and then you maybe cash in a couple of your young players. I don’t think I think that the the era of the super teams, three guys coming together saying we’ll win it by ourselves and who cares who’s the other four and five guys. I think that’s done. I think because of the soft cap is what’s happening now forces teams not to want to be in the luxury tax and they got they can’t afford to keep these teams together and plus you have no room for error when you put three guys together because if somebody gets hurt season’s overs She want to try to post what I look like. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

Marcus Morris Sr. and Alan Hahn join Mike Greenberg on Get Up to preview the renewal of the iconic Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks rivalry in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Then, they react to Jonathan Givony’s reporting on the Philadelphia 76ers’ shopping the No. 3 pick to try and acquire Kevin Durant. Finally, Bart Scott and Peter Schrager join to debate the future of NBA super teams.

0:00 What’s at stake in Pacers-Knicks rivalry?
1:17 Stephen A. Smith on the Pacers at MSG
2:10 Playing at Madison Square Garden
4:14 Who has the advantage in the ECF?
6:20 Required Reading
7:56 Should the Sixers want KD?
9:18 Fact or Fiction?
11:30 Are NBA super teams dead?

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