1993-94 Indiana Pacers: Reggie’s Team

1993-94 Indiana Pacers: Reggie’s Team

1993-1994 Indiana Pacers: Going as Reggie Went

A New Era Under Larry Brown

The late 1980s and early 1990s were a period during which the Indiana Pacers began to focus on what they did best: perimeter shooting and dishing out assists whenever openings presented themselves. The Pacers came prepared with good ball handlers and sharpshooters who could frustrate opposing defenses. One significant move the Pacers made prior to the 1993-94 season was signing Larry Brown as head coach. Brown was a proven winner in both the NBA and college basketball.

In the 1993-94 NBA season the Indiana Pacers went 47-35, finishing 10 games behind the Atlanta Hawks in the Central Division. The Pacers went 29-12 on their home court at Market Square Arena, while on the road they went only 18-23. In divisional play the Pacers went 15-13.

The Pacers’ Roster by the Numbers

Shooting guard Reggie Miller was coming into his own as one of the best shooters in the entire NBA, and his amazing ability to “sweet stroke” perimeter shots from 3-point range was something fans needed to see to believe. Miller led the Pacers with 1,574 points and had 248 assists and 119 steals, making 524 of 1,042 field goal shots, 123 of 292 3-point shots and 403 of 444 free throws. Center Rik Smits stood 7’4″ tall, and opposing defenders didn’t have much of a response for him when he attacked the basket. Smits had 1,224 points, 483 rebounds and 82 blocks, making 493 of 923 field goal shots and 238 of 300 free throws. Small forward Derrick McKey had 911 points, 402 rebounds, 327 assists and 111 steals, making 355 of 710 field goals and 192 of 254 free throws.

Power forward Dale Davis had 771 points and 106 blocks, making 308 of 582 field goal shots and 155 of 294 free throws. Shooting guard Byron Scott had 696 points, making 254 of 548 field goal shots, 27 of 74 3-point shots and 157 of 195 free throws. Power forward Antonio Davis had 626 points and 84 blocks, making 216 of 425 field goal shots and 194 of 302 free throws. Point guard Haywoode Workman had 501 points, 404 assists and 85 steals, making 18 of 56 3-point shots and 93 of 116 free throws.

Winning Streaks Set the Tone

Two winning streaks defined the standard of play the Pacers had grown accustomed to. The first was a 7-game winning streak that began with a 119-108 win over the Houston Rockets on January 29 and ended with a 102-98 win over the Miami Heat on February 9. To finish the regular season on a strong note, the Pacers went on an 8-game winning streak that began with a 121-108 win over the Boston Celtics on April 11 and ended with a 114-81 win over the Miami Heat on April 23.

Playoff Run

First Round: Sweep of the Orlando Magic

In the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Pacers made quick work of the Orlando Magic, sweeping them 3 games to none. In Game 1 on April 28 at the Orlando Arena, the Pacers edged out the Magic 89-88. Reggie Miller had 24 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Rik Smits had 16 points, 5 rebounds and a handful of blocks.

In Game 2 on April 30 the Pacers edged out the Magic again, 103-101. Miller had 32 points, 3 assists and 2 steals. Dale Davis had 16 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks, making 8 of 10 field goal shots. Haywoode Workman had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists. In Game 3 on May 2 the Pacers eliminated the Magic with a 99-86 victory. Miller had 31 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals, making 10 of 16 field goal shots and 9 of 11 free throws. Smits had 22 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, making 6 of 11 field goal shots and 10 of 15 free throws.

Eastern Conference Semifinals: Outlasting the Atlanta Hawks

In the Eastern Conference Semifinals the Indiana Pacers took down the Atlanta Hawks in a tough 6-game series, winning 4 games to 2.

In Game 1 on May 10 at The Omni, the Pacers beat the Hawks 96-85. Miller had 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, making 7 of 8 free throws. Dale Davis had 14 points, 15 rebounds and 2 steals, making 7 of 11 field goal shots. Smits had 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

In Game 2 on May 12 the Hawks walloped the Pacers 92-69. Needing to bounce back, the Pacers did just that, beating the Hawks 101-81 in Game 3 on May 14 at the Market Square Arena. Smits had 27 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals. Miller had 16 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists. In Game 4 on May 15 the Pacers won 102-86. Miller had 25 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, making 4 of 8 3-point shots. Antonio Davis had 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks. In Game 5 on May 17 at The Omni, the Hawks beat the Pacers 88-76.

Returning home to Market Square Arena for Game 6 on May 19, the Pacers beat the Hawks 98-79 to take one more important step. Smits had 27 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Miller had 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Derrick McKey had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists.

Eastern Conference Finals: Seven Games with the New York Knicks

The 1994 Eastern Conference Finals turned out to be one of the more memorable series in NBA playoff history, as the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks took their series 7 games deep. Unfortunately for the Pacers, the Knicks prevailed 4 games to 3 to knock them out. However, as had been the case all season long, the 1993-94 Indiana Pacers were simply going as Reggie went, and Miller carried the team throughout this series.

In Game 3 on May 28 at Market Square Arena, the Pacers beat the Knicks 88-68. McKey had 15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Smits had 14 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Miller had 14 points. In Game 4 on May 30 the Pacers beat the Knicks 83-77. Miller had 31 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. In Game 5 on June 1 at Madison Square Garden, Reggie Miller showed his critics why he was considered a dangerous sharpshooter from beyond the 3-point line. The Pacers beat the Knicks 93-86 to take a 3 games to 2 series lead. Miller went off for 39 points and 6 assists, making 6 of 11 3-point shots.

Legacy of the 1993-94 Pacers Still going as Reggie went, the Indiana Pacers continued to make playoff appearances throughout the 1990s, and it would take the turn of the century for them to reach their first NBA Finals.