No. 1 INDIANA vs. No. 3 NEW YORK

Season series: 2-2

Haven’t we seen this matchup before somewhere too?

The Knicks, who always seem to beat the Miami Heat in the playoffs, are moving on against the Pacers, another team they always seem to run into.

A year ago, the Knicks upset Indiana in the Eastern Conference finals. This spring they will (presumably) have Patrick Ewing for more than the first two games, which automatically makes them better. With their unsung point guards, Charlie Ward and Chris Childs, playing well, the Knicks look better balanced and deeper than a year ago.

Their problem is, so do the Pacers.

Jalen Rose’s emergence as the new leading scorer made Indiana more athletic and, just as important, took the pressure off Reggie Miller, who lay in the weeds all season, posting his lowest average, 18.1 points, since his second season in 1988-89. He has since exploded in the playoffs, averaging 25 points, and it’s not wise to mess with Miller when he’s rolling.

Prediction: Pacers in six. Last season, the Knicks turned the series around, shocking them in Game 1, but that was after six days off. This time, the Knicks got one off--and spent it on an airplane. One miracle per team per rivalry.