Rick Carlisle Compares His Current Mavs vs His Old Pacers Team

DALLAS - Rick Carlisle coached the Indiana Pacers for four seasons, but I know more about the Pacers than Rick Carlisle.

(Grew up there - lifelong fan who suffered through the Steve Stipanovich, Wayman Tisdale, Vern Fleming, Greg Dreiling, Dick Versace, Bob Hill days)

RC was asked today if he ever has been a part of any team that could have come back from the 15-point deficit to win a game the way the Mavs did in OKC on Monday night in Game 4.

"Well, I had Reggie Miller for a couple years. Indiana was a team that could have done it. This is a different team and a different time. Last night was great but it’s over," RC said.

RC's Pacers team in 2003-'04 that won 61 games and lost in the East Finals to the Pistons is the one team that could have done it. But Miller was no where near the prime of his career when RC coached him.
Miller was 38 that season, and starting to slow.

Dirk is 32 and still in his prime.

From a star in their prime standpoint, RC has it better with Dirk now than Reggie then.
And, it brings me great pain me to say this, I'm not sure Reggie could do what Dirk is doing right now.  

@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com 

Comments

[Bobby Slick Leonard]

Reggie is one of the Blue & Gold's all time greats!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nieBAq8FQYE

BOOM BABY!!! BOOM!!!

[Andrea]

This Mav's team hasn't accomplished anything yet. However the Mav's are poised for something special. It looks like they are going to have to take their talents to South Beach and win before they can secure their place in sports history.

[Ousted Sports Editor]

Dirk has always and will always be better then Reg, but that's no knock on Reg. I just think Dirk is that good. If anything, I think Reg is underrated. Man, he had some crazy good seasons. Shooting over 50 from the floor in a few seasons! As a jump shooter! He also averaged 14.8 ppg at 39!

[Kyle]

Agreed Ousted Sports Editor. Reggie Miller is severely underrated(and a better shooter than Ray Allen when it comes to clutch shooting and straight up being someone who'd cut the other team's throat.)

But Dirk is just getting better and better... his shot is absurd, and he makes off-balance, one legged shots with two guys in his face while having his jersey grabbed and fading away from 18 feet out. Insane.