Stephen A. Smith made some major waves with his comments ahead of the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers series.

The New York Knicks haven't won an NBA championship since 1973. The Indiana Pacers won their most recent title that year — in the ABA. The Oklahoma City Thunder franchise has one title in its history, that coming in 1979 when the team called Seattle home. And the Minnesota Timberwolves have never even been to the NBA Finals.

Given the star power the New York Knicks possess, coupled with the spotlight that comes with being a big-market franchise, it's no surprise that much of the media is backing them to easily get past the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals.

Between New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau and Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, which former Coach of the Year has the edge in the Eastern Confere

Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce has a message for the Knicks and their fans. Despite the Knicks being -140 favorites to beat the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, Pierce says the Pacers will “pop” the Knicks.

The beloved actor had been at the last four New York Knicks games in the series with the Boston Celtics while seeing his beloved team make history in making the NBA Finals

Combined with Indiana’s impressive five-game elimination of the top-seeded Cavaliers, it sets up a second straight year pitting the longtime postseason rivals — this time in the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks’ first appearance in the league semis since 2000.

The Knicks sent the defending NBA champion Celtics home in six games and reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000.