Knicks Meet Pacers at Home in Perfunctory Battle

The New York Knicks take on the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday at Conseco Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis, IN. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. The Knicks lead the season series 4-2, but overall, sportsbook cappers know that 2009-2010 has been a disappointing
year for both clubs.

Fresh off a much-needed win against the Clippers at the Staples Center, the Knicks are a team in need of wins. For fans, the season hasn’t been
terribly disappointing, but only because expectations were so low at the start of the year. The Tracy McGrady deal was exciting and seemed to be just what the Knicks needed. Thus far the results have been lackluster however, with the star averaging just 26 minutes and 10 points a game for his new team. Many analysts have labeled this season one of preparation for free agency. With the vast majority of the Knicks’ roster coming to expiring contracts, the clear lack of motivation, while frustrating, is understandable. The Knicks just didn’t come to win this year, but there’s always next season, right?

For their part, Indiana is a team that has not fared much better in the 2009-2010 season. For hoops fans in Indiana, Butler has really been the team to watch this year. Unbeaten in 2010 until their loss in the championship game, the Bulldogs stepped up to provide all the high-flying, fast-paced action on the court fans of basketball betting weren’t getting from the Pacers.

This was a year of regression for the Pacers. It is noteworthy, that numerous players on the roster have turned in worse performances than the previous season. Troy Murphy provided fewer rebounds, T.J. Ford provided fewer assists, and Danny Granger scored fewer points. While one cannot fault preseason pick Tyler Hansbrough for his medical issues, his absence has meant another setback for the team. On the bright side, Roy Hibbert has had a breakthrough season, and second-round draft pick A.J. Price showed his ability to step up during the tumultuous Ford drama mid season. These bright spots however, have not been enough to salvage what has been a poor year for the Pacers.

After dropping four straight, the Knicks rebounded with a big win against the L.A. Clippers. Will that game be the start of some late-season momentum? NBA odds say probably not. Despite the big win at Staples Center for the first time, New York is outmatched by the Pacers, and will have to face Boston on Tuesday night before hand. The Pacers, despite their laundry-list of deficiencies, are still a team which should beat New York at home. The Knicks have lost 5 of their last 6 on the road, and fans of NBA betting know that when things fall apart for the Pacers, it typically happens on the road. Look for the Pacers to best the Knicks in a low-scoring, perfunctory affair.