Fansided

30 best shots in NBA Playoffs history

By John Buhler

June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) moves the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the second half in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) moves the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the second half in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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29 May 1998: Reggie Miller #31 of the Indiana Pacers gestures as referee Jerry Crawford looks on during an Eastern Conference Final game against the Chicago Bulls at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the Bulls 92-89.
29 May 1998: Reggie Miller #31 of the Indiana Pacers gestures as referee Jerry Crawford looks on during an Eastern Conference Final game against the Chicago Bulls at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the Bulls 92-89. /

18. Reggie Miller gets free for three versus Chicago Bulls: 1998 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 4

The Indiana Pacers were always a pesky bunch during the 1990s and the early 2000s in the Eastern Conference. A big reason for that was that their superstar shooting guard Reggie Miller made big-time bucket after big-time bucket.

In the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals, it was no different for Miller in the Pacers. They had to go up against the juggernaut division rival Chicago Bulls. Chicago had won two-straight NBA Championships and were looking at a second three-peat of the Michael Jordan Era.

Keep in mind that this was a different era of NBA basketball where contact was largely allowed in playoff basketball. Miller would shove his opponent down in the low post to ultimately get open past Jordan to hit a crazy game-winning three with 0.7 seconds left on the clock.

Miller was able to loop around the Bulls defense, catch the in-bounds pass and put up another iconic three-pointer. The 1997-98 Bulls were the best team that Miller’s Pacers had meant in the Eastern Conference Finals up to that point. Indiana would lose in a seventh game on the road in Chicago.

The home team would win all seven games in this best-of-seven series. Indiana would eventually get to an NBA Finals in 2000, only to lose to the Los Angeles Lakers. If it weren’t for Jordan being the best basketball player of all-time, maybe Millers’ 1997-98 Pacers could have been NBA Champions?

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