New York’s Tom Thibodeau faces a pivotal decision entering Game 3 of the ECF in Indy.

It is now or never.

The Knicks are already facing a ridiculously tough challenge in trying to come back from a 2-0 deficit, and failing to avoid the insurmountable 3-0 is a priority entering Game 3.

Here’s what we’ve heard from a bunch of Knicks and Pacers in the last few hours, as everybody has mostly stayed silent.

Josh Hart

On Mitchell Robinson’s importance:

“Man, he’s huge. He’s someone who does just everything. Offensive rebound, defensive rebound, he can guard on the perimeter, guard in the post. He’s a big X factor for us. We have to figure out ways — I think he played 30 minutes — figure out ways if he can play more. We’re great with him on. We all got to be willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team.”

On defensive breakdowns against Indiana:

“They do a really good job of moving the ball and screening the ball, forcing you into those mistakes. We have to be more sound defensively, guarding the first action and second action, but also the third. We’re down 0–2, it’s a tough place to be in, but we can’t be having blown coverages.”

On playing on the road:

“The whole year we played well on the road. We played well on the road in the playoffs. That’s a tough place to play. Their crowd comes and shows love and support. But we’re a good road team. That always gives us confidence.”

On late-game lapses in Game 2:

“We had some blown coverages, and I think we were down six or nine, 10. Playoffs a lot of games are determined by a possession or two possessions. We can’t have those lapses. Two games in a row we did. We got to figure it out.”

Jalen Brunson

On avoiding blame within the team:

“Obviously, we can fingerpoint and say this is wrong, that’s wrong. It’s this person’s fault, that person’s fault. But collectively, we have to get it together. That’s really it.”

On the mental demands of the conference finals:

“We’re in the conference finals. Nothing else matters right now. We have a game every other day. We’re playing in a very high stakes moment. The mental, the focus … it has to be there. There is no question about it.”

On the Game 2 decision to pass to Hart instead of shooting a three:

“I mean, I was looking for a 3 but I saw him wide open with enough time to kind of play the trap, steal, foul game. Obviously, it didn’t go in our favor. We had more than enough time and opportunity to get to where we wanted to get to.”

On continuing to believe in the team:

“I’ve said this so many times that I have the utmost confidence and trust in my teammates. We’ve been in positions where we’ve been counted out and found a way to win. Just one step at a time.”

On staying focused going into Game 3:

“They’ve always been there through the ups and the downs. They’re very knowledgeable sports fans. For me, I guess what I want to say to them, we have to continue to fight. So it’s going to take one day at a time, one game at a time. We can’t look ahead, we can’t think about anything other than just Game 3 at this point. That’s just my mindset going forward.”

On the team’s defensive issues:

“Yeah, Obviously we can finger point and say this is wrong, that’s wrong, and say it’s this person’s fault, it’s that person’s fault. But collectively we’ve got to get it together. That’s really it.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the team’s tendency to fall behind early:

“We find ourselves in a deficit, and we can’t keep doing that. We have to execute and be more disciplined.”

Tyrese Haliburton

On Pascal Siakam’s Game 2 performance:

“That’s why we brought him here. It’s what he’s here to do. He can get a bucket in so many different ways. He started the game hot. We just kept feeding him.”

On Tony Bradley’s impact:

“Shoutout to Tony Bradley. Tony Bradley was huge. He came in for us and really got thrown in with our group that has been together for so long. Tony is just an awesome guy and contributes in so many different ways. When we’re doing our scout through all these series, he’s had to be the scout center. There’s been times when he gets thrown in our first group to take some of Myles’ reps when guys are going through things or are a little banged up or whatever the case may be. It’s just so special to see what our group is doing.”

Pascal Siakam

On his Game 2 mindset:

“Whatever was out there, I just took it. I think what makes us special as a team is we have different weapons. We’re not consumed with who’s going to do what.”

On his leadership role:

“We can’t ride the waves. We can’t get too high with the highs and too low with the lows. I just appreciate the opportunity that I have here to have a bunch of guys (who) want to hear my voice. They want me to say something.”

On expectations for the rest of the series:

“It’s only going to get tougher for us.”

Tony Bradley

On staying ready for his moment:

“I just was ready when my name was called. I work hard every day just staying in shape, just being a good teammate. I’m ready to just go hard. That’s all I know. I was just focused on keeping Robinson off the glass. Staying in contact with him, keeping a body on him. trying to get him tired.”