Pablo Prigioni is not your typical NBA rookie point guard. At 35, Prigioni excels when orchestrating the offense in pick-and-roll sets as a pass-first point guard with the ability to make three-pointers if left open on defensive switches.

In a league where point guards have increasingly become scoring playmakers, Prigioni is a throwback to earlier generations, preferring to put his teammates in position to score and play hard-nosed on-the-ball defense.

In fact, Prigioni has drawn groans from fans at Madison Square Garden for passing up potential shots.

However, fans and teammates praised Prigioni for sparking the New York Knicks' runaway victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 after replacing an injured Raymond Felton.

Thunderous chants of “Pablo” broke out in honor of Prigioni’s gritty defensive play and offensive efficiency.

Jason Kidd, considered one of the greatest floor generals in basketball history, spoke glowingly of his backcourt mate.

“The fans are great here, they’re very knowledgeable, and they knew who got us going and that was Pablo,” said Kidd. “He put guys in position to be successful and that’s what point guards do.”

Prigioni has become an x-factor for the Knicks in the playoffs.

In seven playoff games, Prigioni has averaged a +16 plus/minus in four wins and a -6.6 in three losses.

Woodson expressed confidence in Prigioni against the Boston Celtics, recording five assists in Game 2, nine points and five steals in Game 3, and 14 points and five rebounds in Game 6.

When Raymond Felton injured his ankle in Game 2 against the Pacers, Woodson summoned Prigioni without hesitation to provide a jolt.

“I didn’t forget Game 6 in Boston,” said Woodson. “Pablo was big in that game and this was a big game for our ball club that we had to win. We didn’t want to go to Indianapolis down two. That was my thinking, I had flashbacks of Boston, I went with him and he came up big for us.”

Despite being a rookie, Prigioni is accustomed to playing under pressure.

Since beginning his professional career in 1995 in Argentina and Spain, Prigioni won the 2006 Spanish Cup MVP and won a bronze medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics and a gold medal in the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship for Argentina.

Felton knew Prigioni would be a vital contributor for New York after competing against him often in training camp.

“I heard about him for sure, he played with the Olympic team,” said Felton. “I didn’t know much about him, but at the same time, I knew he was tough and that’s all I heard about him. I found it out in training camp playing against him for sure.”

Despite his advanced age, Prigioni’s energy has become infectious throughout the team.

“Pablo is a guy that we feed off defensively,” said Felton. “He’s really aggressive, gets into the ball, picks up guys full court, and we feed off that.”

Prigioni ranked 11th in steals percentage (2.92) this season.

As New York travels to Indiana for the next two games of the series, Prigioni believes ball movement will be the key to victory.

“We had patience on offense, we took better shots, and we moved the ball,” said Prigioni following Game 2. “Everything was much easier.”

After finishing the season ranked Top-30 in true shooting percentage (.595) and effective field goal percentage (.575), Prigioni has continued his efficient shooting during the playoffs.

Prigioni has converted 10 of his 21 three-point attempts (.476) and may see more playing time with J.R. Smith mired in a shooting slump since his Game 4 suspension for elbowing Jason Terry.

Smith has shot a woeful 15-for-57 (.263) from the field since returning from suspension in Game 5 against Boston.