The New York Knicks hold a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. New York’s 2024 Playoffs run invokes memories of great Knicks teams of the past.
Of course, in confronting the Knicks of the past, that means you need to confront Reggie Miller.
The fact that the Knicks are playing the Indiana Pacers is only invoking those memories even more. So too was the fact that Miller attended Game 2 of the Knicks-Pacers series as part of the TNT Sports crew. The longtime NBA analyst received a “warm welcome back” from the fans who filled The Garden on Wednesday night.
Earlier this week, Miller ‘warned’ Knicks fans that “the Boogeyman” was coming. Miller, of course, was at the heart of one of the most memorable finishes in NBA Playoffs history. In Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Miller scored eight points in nine seconds to lift the Pacers over the Knicks, stunning them and Spike Lee. Miller famously made a “choke” sign directly at Lee, taunting him and the Knicks. New York got the last laugh on Miller in the end, but it’s still one of the greatest performances we’ve ever seen.
But don’t count WFAN’s Evan Roberts among those who think Miller deserves that “boogeyman” status. A day after the Knicks defeated the Pacers with Miller in the house, Roberts went off, claiming Miller wasn’t the player he thought he was against the Knicks. In turn, he helped to dispel the “myths” he believes exists.
“Reggie Miller did NOT always beat the New York Knicks! This is a LIE being perpetrated by TNT and Reggie Miller, like he’s the Boogeyman! Reggie, you’re not the Boogeyman…” – WFAN’s Evan Roberts on the idea Reggie Miller owned the Knicks 🏀📻🎙️ pic.twitter.com/izbOC0YbT9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 9, 2024
“Reggie Miller did not always beat the New York Knicks. This is a lie being perpetrated by TNT and Reggie Miller like he’s the ‘Boogeyman.’ Reggie, you’re not the Boogeyman,” Roberts said. “You had some moments against the Knicks. No question! Eight points in nine seconds happened. I admit that. But you know what else happened, Reggie? TNT? You lost to the New York Knicks. Did you know that? You lost to the New York Knicks, that also happened.”
“Reggie didn’t own the Knicks. It’s a lie! It’s a lie!” Roberts exclaimed.
Roberts isn’t necessarily wrong in what he says. But when moments like Miller’s get mythologized like they have over the last three decades, then you get what we’ve gotten here.
