Hersey Hawkins' book on Reggie Miller
By Hersey Hawkins
Special to ESPN.com
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WATCHING LIKE A HAWK |
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|  | | Hawkins |
Throughout the rest of the playoffs, Bulls guard Hersey Hawkins will provide ESPN.com with an in-depth scouting report on several key players. Hawkins continues his series with a look at Pacers guard Reggie Miller. |
To put it simply, Reggie Miller is the man for the Pacers. He's a leader for Indiana on and off the court, and he's developed into a very clutch playoff performer.
How to defend Miller: Of course, you can't give him the jump shot. The best way to defend Reggie is to start by denying him the ball. Don't let him get touches. If he gets his hands on it, he has one of the quickest releases in the game. However, he also has the ability to take one or two dribbles, lean into you, shoot or get fouled and get to the line.
Miller is very smart about picking spots to get the ball off, and all he needs is a little bit of room to shoot. The Pacers run a lot of screens that you don't expect, and even when you think you are in position, Reggie shoots anyway. You think, man, how did he do that? And he makes lot of those shots.
You used to take the ball right to him, but now you can't be as physical with him as you used to. In the past you went in trying to be physical with him and take him out of his game. Make him use energy to get open, bump him and hold him. He has freedom now to come off the baseline with the new rules.
|  | | Reggie Miller is very adept at creating space to get his shot off. |
How Miller defends you: He actually is playing some defense now at this stage in his career. It started with Larry Brown, and the Pacers made a commitment to defense.
You can tell over the years that Miller has concentrated more on defense. He is more vocal when you run sets, and he is yelling out things. He stays in front of guys well. He can still have problems in one-on-one situations. It's because of age and also, sometimes when you are not known as a defensive player, you don't focus as much. You can take advantage of him. He has to score for that team, and doesn't want foul trouble, so as an offensive player, you have to take advantage of that.
What role Miller fills for the Pacers: Despite Jalen Rose's great season, if Miller is not playing well, the Pacers normally lose. He's the guy Indiana leans on to win games, and he's shown thus far in these playoffs that he's capable of carrying the team.
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