INDIANAPOLIS – Pacer practice was winding down and what remained were shooting drills. Reggie Miller took feed after feed from Pacer assistants and from a another guy who built a reputation as a pretty fair player, Larry Bird.Silently, seemingly effortlessly, Miller hurled up shot after shot, moving around the perimeter. When there was a miss, Miller remained at that spot until several in a row succeeded.
“What you see in New York is Showtime,” said Pacer president Donnie Walsh, as he pointed toward Miller, who continued the monotonous regimen. “Watch him here. Just watch him.”
Some shots bounded away but more went in than not as Miller completed each attempt with that two-handed follow-through that has been a sickening sight to Knick fans in the playoffs. Miller continued his regimen without bluster or swagger, just uncanny accuracy.
“This is the way he is around us, quiet, not barking out,” said Walsh, who drafted Miller out of UCLA in 1987 with the 11th pick. “He knows New York and what will be the reaction. We think he’s the good Reggie when he’s being evil to you. So there’s a difference of opinion.”
Miller knows New York and, of course, New York knows Miller – how could the city not. The Pacer superstar has put on some legendary performances, such as his eight points in 8.9 seconds in ’95.
In all, Miller has led the Pacers up against the Knicks in four series, earning a split. In 23 games, the Pacers have won 12, lost 11 while Miller has averaged 25.2 points, shooting .457 (181-of-396). But forget the numbers. Miller delights in tormenting the Knicks and the city.
“It’s been a great matchup. I’m not going to focus in on myself but for the franchise,” Miller said. “They’ve always downplayed us and we always wanted to show the big city that we can play even though we’re from a small market. We kind of take things to heart here.”
Miller, though, has been a model of verbal decorum. That little shot yesterday was about the most controversial thing he has said since it was so painfully apparent the Knicks and Pacers would clash again in the fifth installment of the post-season rivalry. Ask him about the Knicks and he praises their ball movement, marvels at the athleticism of Latrell Sprewell, pays homage to their depth.
This from the guy who put into vogue the art of giving a choke sign to a team after nailing a 3-pointer?
“Understand, Reggie comes from a military family and he is very respectful,” Walsh offered about his 33-year-old stud. “Never, I never heard him answer back to a coach. He publicly has never said anything about a coach. And privately, I’ve never seen him in practice talk back to a coach. Ever. And I go to every practice. Is that rare? In today’s world, yeah. I’ve never heard him say a word to a coach.
“And he always practices. He doesn’t take off practice,” said Walsh, who was asked what happened to the swaggering Miller New Yorkers would love to deposit in the nearest dumpster.
“He’s gotten away from that. At one time, I think he felt he had to do that to get attention but I watch him now, he’s different. After we beat Philly, he was much more subdued. He’s coming out in a three-piece suit. At one time he’d wear a bandana. Why the change? It’s like all of us. Age.”
But Miller, he of the silken jumper, may get the juices flowing and the vocal chords fine-tuned in the upcoming series. This is the Knicks, after all. Miller loves center stage. And there is no bigger stage than New York.
“If you don’t like to play in New York, you don’t like to play anywhere,” Larry Bird said.