| | INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers got their freebie.
|  | | Reggie still hasn't hit a fourth-quarter field goal. |
The scary thing is, they had to hang on for dear life to win Game 3,
even with Kobe Bryant getting treatment for his bum ankle in the
trainers room.
"I'm sure come Wednesday, when Kobe is playing, it will be a
different-look team," Reggie Miller said.
The Pacers had better get their old look back, fast. That means Miller wanting to shoot the ball down the stretch and not looking for
people who have never won these kinds of games before.
The craziest thing has happened to Miller as he's played in his first
NBA Finals. Suddenly he thinks he's John Stockton. In the first three
games, he's taken fewer shots and fewer shots in the fourth quarter. And
incredibly, he still hasn't made any yet.
During the Pacers' 100-91 win on Sunday, Miller took only one shot in
the final period and missed. In Game 2, he got off only two shots and
bricked both. In the opener, he was 0-for-4. So if you're scoring,
that's 0 for 7 for a guy who is widely considered Mr. Fourth Quarter.
Has he already forgotten how the Pacers got here? It's like Game 6 at
the Garden against the Knicks, when he poured in 17 points on Allan
Houston and Latrell Sprewell in the final 12 minutes, never happened.
"Guys will get open looks," Miller said, "if they funnel the ball to
me."
In other words, Miller is now content to put the Pacers' fate in the
hands of guys named Austin Croshere and Jalen Rose. Like they've won big
games before.
Now, we're not suggesting that the Pacers can win this series. Two facts
that don't change from game to game: 1) They don't have the size inside
or athletes outside to defend Shaquille O'Neal, who can get gimmes just
about every time down the floor; 2)They're too slow to stop the Lakers
from taking the ball to the rim, whenever they please. Even Ron Harper
can break them down.
But if the Pacers want to stick around a few more days and make a return
trip to L.A., Miller is going to have to give them one or two
patented Reggie fourth quarters that Knicks fans have come to
dread.
"I think it always comes down to me," Miller said. "It's my team. I've
got to step up and do everything."
At the start of the next fourth quarter, he just might need to remember
that.
Rim Shots I
There must be little, if any, interest in Maurice Taylor on
the free agent front. Several teams vying for Tracy McGrady, who is also
part of the David Falk-Arn Tellem stable, report that to get McGrady, they
need to sign Taylor, too. Apparently, Orlando and Chicago have been
alerted to that package demand. Taylor's got low value because he
annually has some of the worst rebounding stats for forwards. This past
season, he averaged only 4.9 defensive rebounds in 36 minutes.
Everyone expects McGrady to wind up in Chicago. Tellem and Bulls owner
Jerry Reinsdorf have a history of doing business (Albert Belle, White
Sox), and McGrady's shoe deal with adidas calls for him to get a boost
if he goes to one of three major markets: Chicago, New York and L.A.
McGrady also sees a place where he'll get the ball and run the show. But
if Tim Duncan goes to Orlando -- and it's still possible, but not
probable -- McGrady will "definitely sign with the Magic," said one GM.
"That's a lock."
New Jersey isn't married to the No. 1 pick overall -- they're entertaining offers -- but probably will keep it. But Kenyon
Martin might not be their choice. As great an athlete and quick a jumper
as he is, he's not a power forward. Martin also reportedly is not big on
joining any of the teams holding the top picks. Orlando would love to
move up to the No. 1 spot to get him, but other teams think his ankle is
still a big question.
Michigan's Jamal Crawford improved his stock at
Chicago pre-draft camp, along with Indiana's A.J. Guyton. Crawford,
a legit 6-4 combination guard, could be a Top 20 pick. As usual, none of the
top players played. Florida's Donnell Harvey didn't help himself.
Blazers? Jermaine O'Neal's on several teams' wish list, including the Bulls
and Celtics. Bulls would love to send their No. 4 pick overall to
Portland for O'Neal. The Blazers need a center, what with Arvydas
Sabonis' age/health and no legit backup. Chris Mihm would be there.
Hawks insist they won't move Dikembe Mutombo, unless they get a major
star in return. No one is interested in giving up one of those for
Mutombo, at this stage of his career.
Finger-pointing in Portland:
After Blazers' epic Game 7 collapse vs. L.A., players are privately
taking pot shots at Mike Dunleavy's spread-the-wealth offense. All we
know is, in fourth quarter vs. L.A., Rasheed Wallace had nine shots and
went to the line twice. Steve Smith got off five shots. Scottie Pippen
had three shots. That's 17 attempts for the right players in that spot,
but they combined to make only four baskets. The ball was in the right
hands, they just couldn't convert.
Free-agent-to-be Chris Mullin
is lobbying to return to hometown to play for Knicks. They do need a
three-point shooter off the bench.
Bucks are looking at Orlando PG Chucky
Atkins, a free agent who has several other teams in hot pursuit.
Mack
Calvin, ex-ABAer, is looking to get on with Dave Cowens' new coaching
staff in Golden State.
Patrick Ewing for Juwan Howard? Naturally,
those rumors have resurfaced, but Knicks would be nuts to take on
Howard's deal. When Ewing's contract is up after next season $14 million
comes off NY's $71 mil cap.
Pat Riley's minions have sent out word:
The Heat want to get more production out of their power forward spot,
meaning they're finally willing to part with P.J. Brown. Riley's been
turning down offers for Brown for the past three seasons. And now, his
value has never been lower.
Mitch Lawrence, who covers the NBA for the New York Daily News, writes a regular NBA column for ESPN.com.
| |
ALSO SEE
Complete coverage of NBA Finals
Lawrence: Six reasons why L.A. in six
Finally, Reggie shoots Pacers to Finals win
X factor: Missing supporting cast dooms Lakers
Frozen moment: Miller time makes for happy Fieldhouse
Playoff Around The Rim: June 12
NBA Finals Buzz: One game changes momentum, maybe
|
