In the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals, Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers faced Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. The Pacers were the No. 3 seed in the East at the time, while the Bulls were the No. 1 seed.
Despite the bullish outlook on the Bulls beating the Pacers, Miller can't wait to prove that the Pacers have a chance to beat Chicago as Jordan was in the final year of his contract at the time, with rumors that he would retire after the season.
In Episode 8 of ESPN's documentary about Jordan's final season, The Last Dance, Miller talks about the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals against Jordan and the Bulls. The marksman thinks the Pacers are better, and the most he wants to do is beat Jordan and send him to retirement.
"We all see the Bulls as the standard model for successful teams," Miller said. "They were considered the best team at the time, but we felt, I still feel, we are the better team. There's gossip that it will be Michael's last year. So I think a perfect storm is brewing, and in my mind, I'm thinking, 'Well, that's it, you're going to get Michael Jordan to retire.'"
In the documentary, former Bulls big man Bill Winnington said the showdown with Indiana was Chicago's toughest playoff game during the Dynasty. Jordan lifted his 1997-98 MVP trophy in the second game of the series.
Jordan said in "The Last Dance" that the Pacers gave the Bulls their biggest trouble in the East. He also revealed that he really wanted to beat them because every time he faced them, his body would be hit to the point of slight injury.
"If I had to pick the team that caused us the biggest trouble in the East, Indiana would probably be the hardest apart from Detroit." Jordan said. "They're tough. Every time I go into the box and come out, I get new scratches on my body. "
Jordan and the Bulls won the first two games at home. Miller and the Pacers won games three and four at their home. In game four, Miller hit a winning three-pointer as Jordan chased him.
Chicago won the fifth game at The Union Center and had the opportunity to end the series in a sixth game in Indiana. However, the Pacers won, dragging the series into a steal of seven.
Game seven between the Bulls and Pacers is an epic game. In the fourth quarter, Indiana looked set to win the game and end the Bulls Dynasty. However, the Bulls' championship experience played a role in key moments.
Led by Jordan, the Bulls led the Pacers 19-18 in the fourth quarter. Jordan scored nine of his 28 points in the final quarter and limited Miller's score to 0. Chicago won 88-83 to advance to the 1998 Finals.
Jordan averaged 31.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in the Pacers' series. Meanwhile, Miller has 17.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. After beating Indiana, Jordan and the Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz to win their sixth championship. That summer, Jordan ended his Bulls career with six championships, six Finals MVPs and five regular season MVPs.
Miller then led the Pacers to a 2000 Finals game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, Indiana lost the Finals in six games. Reggie Miller, who entered the Hall of Fame and was named one of the best 75 players in NBA history, has never won a championship in his legendary career, all to blame for Jordan being too strong.