Spike Lee may have reconciled his rift with Reggie Miller, which stemmed from a 1990s feud with the former Pacers star, but Miller doesn’t expect the New Yorker to move past it. .
Miller was the big bad at the height of the Knicks-Pacers rivalry, which included two classic playoff series in 1994 and 1995, and will be on the TNT broadcast crew calling Game 2 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. I plan to become a member.
The great NBA analyst turned NBA fan is looking forward to the reaction from Knicks fans when he steps into the Garden later this week.
“I’d be surprised if you didn’t hear someone say, ‘Reggie sucks,’ during the game,” Miller said on Monday’s episode of “The Dan Patrick Show.” “Actually, I’d be a little hurt if someone didn’t tell me, ‘Reggie is the worst.’ I kind of want that.”
Miller said he is “looking forward” to helping call the series as the Knicks and Pacers meet in the postseason for the first time since 2013.
Patrick, a five-time NBA All-Star, said he had no bias or prejudice in helping call Game 2 along with play-by-play man Brian Anderson and analyst Stan Van Gundy.
“For 18 years, I was an Indiana Pacer? Absolutely,” Miller said. “But I’m sure I’ll hear the chants, I’m sure I’ll hear those naughty words, and that’s fine. But I’m there to work, I’m there to play the game. This is going to be a great series. I’m sure it will.”
Mr Miller added: “But please know, the Boogeyman is coming back to town to decide the match. I’m going now.”
Miller famously broke the hearts of Knicks fans by scoring eight points in nine seconds in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals, leading Indiana to victory and, ultimately, the series championship. .
The previous year, during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the antics of a Knicks superfan motivated Miller to score 25 points in the fourth quarter while the two traded trash talk. , Miller became involved with Lee for the remainder of the period.
Miller infamously made a choking gesture towards Lee in that game, but the filmmaker and the Knicks had the last laugh as New York advanced to the NBA Finals that season.
The Pacers star also scored 34 points against the Knicks in Game 6 of the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals, clinching the series victory.
Lee recently told the Post that he distanced himself from his rivalry with Miller.
“There is no rivalry between Reggie and I. It’s all about love. Peace and love. Two grown black men who respect each other,” he said.
Mr. Miller seemed to echo that point in an interview on “The Dan Patrick Show,” but he didn’t seem to emphasize it as much as Lee did.
“We’re bound together forever. Now we’ve put a lot of baggage under the bridge,” Miller said. “We’ve been friendly at the All-Star Game, and he was there when we had the All-Star Luncheon with the legends. He presented me with an award, and we I felt kind of good.
“But we’ve never played against each other…our Pacers and the Knicks have never played against each other. Right now we’re in the building and both teams have a chance to get to the conference finals so we’re nervous. Masu.”
The series begins Monday night on MSG.
