Miller Time: Why Reggie Cracks My Top 5 Shooting Guards | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

Miller Time: Why Reggie Cracks My Top 5 Shooting Guards

Reggie Miller is one of the best shooting guards of all time, here's how he ranks.

209
Miller Time: Why Reggie Cracks My Top 5 Shooting Guards

Its Miller time.

Reggie Miller's status as a top five shooting guard in NBA history may be coming to an end very soon. So here’s an ode to him.

Many young guns, if they can finish their careers stronger than they started, have an opportunity to supplant Mr. 8 points, 9 seconds. If, and this is big, James Harden can will Houston on a Finals run or Klay Thompson continues to profit from being a member of the Golden State Warriors, Reggie will be off the Mount Rushmore for his position.

Currently, he is arguably the third or fourth best shooting guard in NBA history, and that depends where you rank the likes of Dwayne Wade and Jerry West. All of whom sit behind the GOAT and Anti-GOAT, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. He is firmly planted in front of prolific scorers Clyde Drexler and George Gervin. Neither, though influential to the game, have fathered a movement. Gervin played before the three point shot became available and Drexler was just born to close to MJ, mimicking his athleticism, but not matching his success.

Miller’s skill set would have made him a star in any era, however in today’s NBA he would be capable of being truly unleashed. Ray Allen, Allen Iverson and Bryant did not compete to long in the Jordan rules NBA, mostly stuffing the stat sheet post-elimination of hand checking. The freedom that today’s shooter are awarded was never afforded to Miller. He instead employed bigs to set screens away from the ball as he elegantly glided through them to flex effortless range. This is exactly how the Warriors play today, and has been noticed by many as the major change in play styles from different eras. However, today’s screen and space NBA has shooters spaced everywhere so defensive players cannot focus on one man. Reggie was the only focus of defense on a nightly basis. Miller was able to seek out 18.2 PPG for his 18 year career. Not stellar, but proves that his slender frail body was able to handle a physical beating and consistently perform, that physicality is something Harden or Thompson had to deal with.

Similar to Gervin, Miller does not have any jewelry to boast about, but he played in an era that overlapped Jordan and Bryant. However, Miller was a staple on the Indiana Pacers, opting to stay loyal and grind with his teammates through the years. Countless times, he placed his squad on his back to get a victory.

His ability to wreck a defensive game plan, tenacity and clutch gene make him an elite shooting guard. No matter who your favorite is, he deserves an honorable mention.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1095
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

657
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199775
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20621
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments