Miller Says Pressure Is on Lakers

The Indiana Pacers did not practice Saturday, but leave it up to shooting guard Reggie Miller to set the stage for Monday’s Game 6 at Staples Center.

“We absolutely, positively, have nothing to lose and everything in the world to gain,” Miller said of the Pacers’ attitude, despite trailing the Lakers, three games to two, in the best-of-seven series. “So we are going to play free, loose, we don’t care. You know, there’s no pressure on us. All the pressure is on them. From the get-go, they were supposed to beat us. They were supposed to sweep us.”

Although the Pacers have lost all three games at Staples Center this season, Miller is confident Indiana can win two in a row on the road to win its first NBA title.

“We can’t play from behind,” Miller said. “If we can keep the margin within three to six to seven points either way, then we can compete. We can’t compete if we’re down by 10 and we make a run and then they go back up by 10. That’s going to take too much out of us. But we’re going to have to establish some type of rhythm early.”

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Indiana Coach Larry Bird is glad the Pacers extended the series to six games, but he also knows who still holds the edge.

“They have the lead, they came to [Indiana] and got the game they needed,” Bird said. “It’s up to us to put the pressure on them. We have to go out and win a ball game.

“You are always concerned about going on the road and playing. It’s not the home court. We haven’t played well in Staples Center this year, but now we got a little bit more confidence than we’ve ever had going in there. Hopefully, we can just pull it through.”

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The Pacers realize if they start Game 6 shooting the way they did in Game 5, they will be in good shape. On Friday, Indiana shot 75% in the first quarter and made all six three-point attempts.

“It makes life a whole lot easier, no doubt about that,” forward Dale Davis said. “I thought we did a good job of moving the ball early. Guys made moves. Guys hit shots when they had to.”

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The Pacers might play better on one of those dirt courts in their coach’s hometown than they have in four previous games at Staples Center, including two in the NBA finals.

Whether it is the disapproving looks from Laker fans in their luxury suites or the occasional applause from Laker fans at courtside, the Pacers have been unable to solve the nuances of Staples space.

Miller, Jalen Rose and Rik Smits made a combined 30 of 95 shots in Games 1 and 2, Pacer losses that helped put them into their precarious position.

The Pacers, who made 39.6% of their shots in Games 1 and 2, have made 40.8% in four games at Staples this season, including one against the Clippers.

Yes, the Clippers. So inept are the Pacers in the new arena that they lost by 13 to the Clippers on Jan. 8, a night they made only four of 19 three-point shots and 33 of 74 shots overall.

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The Pacers continue to take their cue from Miller and Rose, who combined for 57 points in Friday’s 120-87 victory at Conseco Fieldhouse. When Miller and Rose score at least 20 points apiece, the Pacers are 6-1 in the playoffs. The lone defeat, however, was to the Lakers.

“We have to have scoring from both of them,” Bird said. “Sometimes when Jalen starts making shots, they forget about Reggie.”