9 Jan 11 Reggie Miller vs New York Kicks:a Legacy In Retrospect.

The Mamba's first game back from injury was a special one, for?two reasons LA got the win, and Kobe surpassed Reggie Miller on the All Time scoring list. Not only did he pass him but he did it in typical "Miller Time" fashion, knocking down a 3 to tie it then coming right back and hitting with 4.3 seconds left. As honored as I Chicago Bears jersey
felt to be able to witness such a performance, I was perturbed by the lack of respect that was shown to Reggie. With the exception of Mark Jackson the rest of the media vaguely mentioned it as if Kobe passing Reggie was no big deal. So in light of that here's my tribute to one of the best clutch shooters the NBA has ever seen.Reginald Wayne Miller was drafted as the 11th pick in the first round to the Indiana Pacers. For the next 18 years Reggie would go on to entertain the fans of Indiana and?hold hostage the fans of opposing teams in their own arena. Reggie was known for his long bombs in the last second of tight games,he was also known for his fierce competiveness and trash talk.Reggie became my second favorite player behind MJ in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks, due to his phenomenal shooting performance in Game 5 of the series on June 1, 1994, in which he scored 39 points total and 25 in the fourth quarter of the Pacers' 93-86 victory at MSG. Miller made several long three-pointers during the quarter and engaged in an animated discussion of his ongoing performance with noted Knicks fan Spike Lee, who was seated courtside. The win gave the Pacers a 3-2 series lead over the heavily favored Knicks, but the Pacers eventually?lost the next two games and thus the series.My favorite Reggie Miller perfromance was?Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Knicks, Miller scored eight points in 8.9 seconds?Reggie hit a three, stole the inbounds pass, dribbled back to the three-point?strike and tied the game with a second three-pointer, the Knicks and there fans were devastated. The Pacers went on to win that series.This next performance was day Reggie broke my heart, May 25, 1998, the Pacers trailed the Chicago two games to one in the series and were behind 94-93 Cincinnati Bengals jersey
in Game 4 at Marquet Square Arena with less than three seconds remaining. Miller caught the inbounds pass from McKey, pushed off Jordan turned and made a game winning three-point shot. I was crushed Reggie was one of my favorite player next to Jordan so I didn't mind him scoring, but not like that. In that possession Reggie showed no mercy and felt no fear in inthe face of the NBA's best player Reggie will to win was clad iron.The Pacers eventually extended the series to a decisive seventh game in Chicago, a game in which the Pacers were leading most of the 4th quarter before finally losing their composure in the final minutes. Thank God??My Bulls took the series and went on to win their sixth and final?ring with Jordan.In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the 76ers?on May 6, 2000, Reggie and teammate Jalen Rose each scored 40 points a piece becoming the highest scoring?duo in playoff history; in the Pacers' 108-91 victory. The Pacers won that series 4-2 and returned to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth time in seven years. This time around they would finally pass the threshhold, defeating their arch-?rivals the new York ?Knicks four games to two. The deciding Game 6 on June 2, 2000 was sealed by Reggie's 34 points, half of which came in the fourth quarter.The Pacers thus advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, facing the the?Lakers who boasted the likes?of the Diesel and the Black Mamba. The Pacers lost the series and the championship four games to two, but Miller put on a shooting clinic?that allowed the Pacers a little breathing room withtheir game?5 win, scoring 25 points in the game. Miller averaged 24.3 points per game for the series.February 10, was a sad day for myself and many Reggie Miller/Indian Pacer fans Cheryl Miller?Reggies Cleveland Browns jersey
older sister reported that her brother had told her the previous day that he would indeed retire. On April 11, in a game against the Raptors, Miller passed "The?Logo" Jerry?West?to move into 12th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.So while the rest of the world may have forgotten the unforgetable basketball displays you have put on over the years I haven't, and I never will. Thank You Reggie!