• ECF Game 1: Pacers at Knicks, 8 p.m., Wednesday (TV: TNT)
• Pacers, Knicks have met eight times previously in the playoffs and the Pacers have won five of those series, including three straight.

If there’s one NBA franchise and fan base that won’t overlook the Indiana Pacers, it’s the New York Knicks.

The playoff history is well-documented. But here’s a quick refresher: They’ve met eight times previously, and the Pacers have won five of those series — three straight, including last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals, with the Pacers eliminating the Knicks in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden.

The last time the Knicks reached the NBA Finals? They beat the Pacers in 1999 ECF.

The last time the Pacers reached the NBA Finals? They beat the Knicks in 2000 ECF.

You get the idea.

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There are few Knicks fans as loud as ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. And even he is wary of what lies in wait for New York.

“I’m almost getting goosebumps right now thinking about it… I respect Indiana, and I think Indiana can beat the New York Knicks,” Smith said on Wednesday’s First Take. “I’m not saying I’m picking them to do it, I’m saying they can beat the New York Knicks. Do not sleep on them. Do not underestimate them.”

But Smith made it clear: This series is going seven games and he’s picking the Knicks to reach the NBA Finals.

“I respect the Indiana Pacers. And even though by and large due to injuries, they did beat the New York Knicks in the semifinals last year. We can’t ignore they’ve got experience being at the Garden, and they won that Game 7 at the Garden,” Smith said. “Ain’t gonna be two years in a row. Ain’t going to be two years in a row they’re taking the New York Knicks out. Because I think this is a 7-game series written all over it… Losing back-to-back series to the Indiana Pacers, that’s not something I’m buying into at all. Jalen Brunson is the Clutch Player of the Year. Mikal Bridges, Karl Anthony-Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart. Offensively the New York Knicks are better than they were last year…

“(The Pacers) deserve all the credit in the world, but again, they’ll be going against the Clutch Player of the Year on his home turf. And we know this is going to be, we know this has got seven games written all over it.”

After the Knicks eliminated the Celtics on Friday night, Smith reiterated he thinks the series will go seven games.

“I think it’s got seven games written all over it. The Indiana Pacers aren’t considered elite defensively, at least by some, but they’re certainly big time offensively,” Smith said Friday night. “They could put some points up in bunches. And they can get stops when they need to get stops.

“They are a well-balanced team. You don’t look at anybody on their squad and I say ‘superstar.’ But they are to be big-time respected. Haliburton can ball. I don’t anybody whose calling him overrated. He’s not overrated. That brother can play. Myles Turner can play. Nembhard and Nesmith can play. Mathurin can play. They’re well-balanced. They’re exceptionally, exceptionally well-coached by a champion in Rick Carlisle, and they have no problem going up against the New York Knicks. They may have lost two or three meetings to them in the regular season, but they don’t have any problem going against the New York Knicks. So the New York Knicks are going to have to show up. I think they’re going to have to be more efficient offensively. I think they’re going to have to be consistent defensively in order to win this series. It’s got seven games written all over it. And I believe this series will come down to a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden for the right to go to the NBA Finals.”

Kendrick Perkins predicts Knicks to beat Pacers in 7

ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins, who admitted to overlooking the Pacers all season (“Shame on me.”), agrees the series will go the distance.

“I got Knicks in seven. Perfect opportunity for the New York Knicks to get their lick back. Hell, the Knicks took the Pacers to seven games last year and Jalen Brunson, I believe, had a fractured thumb. Josh Hart had an abdominal strain. You had OG Anunoby, he was dealing with a hamstring issue. Now those guys are healthy with the addition of a Karl-Anthony Towns and a Mikal Bridges. And we’re watching right now Mitchell Robinson and Deuce McBride have been providing some spectacular minutes off the bench on both ends of the floor.

“I believe this Knicks team is going to be ready for the Pacers. I’m not underestimating the Pacers. They play agenda-free basketball. They have a helluva coach in Rick Carlisle. They have a guy that’s a real closer in Tyrese Haliburton, but he’s not a better closer than Brunson. And I think Brunson along with Josh Hart’s leadership is going to take this Knicks team to the NBA Finals. I agree with Stephen A. Smith, it’s going to seven games. It’s going to be a brawl for it all. But I have the Knicks winning this series in seven.”

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