![]() ![]() I review the 1-358 rankings many sites are posting and look through past performance, returning production, and potential breakouts for the teams that profile as contenders in their league or the at-large pool. Regarding methodology, I try to absorb as much preseason content as possible, whether online or in print, data-driven or subjective. This set of projections is always the toughest to do since there isn’t actual data to use, not to mention the massive roster churn from year to year. They were always a threat as a title contender but unfortunately never could get over the hump, making it to the NBA Finals once and the Eastern Conference Finals five times.Īt times during the 2000 NBA Finals versus a Lakers team led by Shaq and Kobe Bryant, it looked like they might pull it off but in the end Miller and the Pacers were denied a ring in a heartbreaking 116-111 loss in Game 6.With the college basketball season tipping off today, it’s time to go on record with my preseason bracket projections. I remember watching so many of those Miller-led Pacers teams from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s play some of the scrappiest, hard-nosed basketball in the league. One of the greatest shooters of his era, Miller's 2,560 three pointers were the most all-time when he retired but later surpassed by Ray Allen and Steph Curry. ![]() That also turned out to be a personal best for Miller over his eighteen seasons with the Pacers. In Miller's third season in the NBA, he cemented his role as the Pacers' starting shooting guard and overtook Chuck "The Rifleman" Person as their leading scorer with 24.6 points per game. Over the rest of his career, Johnson continued to put up points and assists, earning three All-Star nominations and five All-NBA selections leaving many to consider him one of the greatest point guards of his era. Johnson wasted no time showing the world what he could do during the 1988-1989 season when he averaged 20.4 points and 12.2 assists per game, ultimately earning him the Most Improved Player Award. However, with Price seeming to have the point guard position seemingly locked down, a little over halfway through his rookie season, the Cavs traded Johnson to the Phoenix Suns, where he would finish out the rest of his career. Originally drafted seventh overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1987 NBA Draft, Johnson came off the bench to support Mark Price. Though Kevin Johnson has enjoyed political success in more recent memory, he initially gained notoriety as one of the best point guards in the NBA from the late 80s to mid-90s. Though their season ended in another heartbreak Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Pistons, Pippen and Jordan were clearly developing into the most dangerous 1-2 punch in league history.ġ989 Fleer #123 Kevin Johnson Rookie Card However, he would go on to be named to the All-Defensive First Team eight times and the All-Defensive Second Team two times over the rest of his career. Surprisingly, he wasn't selected to the All-Defensive team that year. He continued to develop his defensive skills, too, as his 1.2 blocks per game were a career high while his 2.6 steals per game were the second-highest of his career. With Pippen making his rookie card debut in the 1988 Fleer set, this second year card offers a nice consolation to those who might not be able to afford the steep price tag on his rookie card.ĭuring the 1989-1990 season, Pippen increased his scoring output to 16.5 points per game while averaging 6.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists while earning his first trip to the All-Star Game. I've always loved this card as the image of him soaring above the rim, surrounded by the red borders, Chicago Bulls team logo in the upper-right and scoring leader banner in the lower-left give this card tons of pop. It was a crushing blow to Jordan's championship hopes but that loss in Game 6 only continued to forge his passion for winning. Unfortunately for Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, they were knocked out of the Eastern Conference Finals by the Detroit Pistons for the second year in a row. Jordan showed off his defensive skills just as much, as he also led the league in steals with 2.8 swipes per game.Ĭlearly, Jordan was not messing around that season (as if he ever did) and by the time the playoffs rolled around, it looked like he was bound to finally break into the NBA Finals for the first time. The 1989-1990 season saw Michael Jordan up to his usual electric play as he led the league in scoring four the fourth year in a row with 33.6 points per game, the third highest clip of his career.
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