Another day, another guarantee. But yesterday’s claim by Pacers point guard Mark Jackson was the strongest yet. And he insisted it was more like a Joe Willie – not a Hoya Destroya – prediction.

“I guarantee that we will win tonight and take care of business on Sunday,” Jackson said referring to Game 6 last night at the Garden and then tomorrow’s Eastern Conference finals decisive game in Indiana, if necessary. “That’s not a Patrick Ewing guarantee, it’s more like a Joe Namath.”

Now, wasn’t Jackson opening himself up to criticism?

“I know this team. It’s the way we practice, the way we look, the body language, all of those things,” Jackson insisted. “And I know this team’s mentality. I’d be absolutely shocked if I wasn’t right.”