Everyone's buzzing about the gauntlet the Knicks have to run next week against the Lakers, Cavaliers and Celtics, but I say the gauntlet starts with this evening, where the Knicks play an improving Pacers team that has Mike Dunleavy rounding into form, and the always dangerous (and recently named all-star) Danny Granger to contend with, not to mention Jarret Jack, who had his best game against the Knicks last time the two teams played. The Knicks already lost a Friday night heartbreaker to the Pacers at the start of 2009 at the Garden, and this time the Pacers come even more fortified.

The best thing the Knicks can do is take it to the Pacers and push the pace, given the Pacers played an intense game against the Heat last night. I'm always a little nervous when the Knicks have more than one day off and they start to feel a little too good about themselves (as was the case when they returned from their West Coast road trip), but let's hope the coaching staff has learned to reach this crew a liittle more effectively at this point in the season.

Back with a recap of the action on Sunday or Monday -- time for the Knicks to take it up to the next level, and see if they can sustain their play in tougher environments and against focused competition.