Reggie Encouraged by Practice Pace
Oct. 5, 2003
 |
The 38-year-old star has shown few, if any, effects from offseason ankle surgery. Though he said on the eve of training camp for the veterans that he planned to take it slow, he has not.
“That’s going to be up to him but, so far, we can’t even get him to take a rest from a drill,” said coach Rick Carlisle. “He literally will not come out. And I view that as a very encouraging sign.”
Miller likewise has been encouraged. He didn’t return to the basketball floor until early September, when he worked out with Pepperdine University’s team and a handful of NBA players. Normally an offseason workout fanatic, Miller wasn’t sure how quickly it would take him to regain his playing legs, but his ability to make it through the first five practices smoothly has been cause for optimism about the pace of his recovery.
 R. Miller |
“At least I’m in better shape and I will be in shape before this first game,” he said Sunday. “I don’t know how wise that is but it feels good so I want to roll with the punches. I kind of pick and choose. We have 18, 19 guys so I get my break and rest in-between (drills). It just feels good to be back out here playing with the guys and trying to get back to the level I’m capable of getting to.
“The workouts at Pepperdine were good but I was somewhat babying it a little bit. I’ve been going full-bore out here and I’m more surprised, defensively, at what I’ve been able to do. I’ve been able to pressure and pick up full, and that’s what I’m most encouraged about. If I can play defense, your offense will always be there. You get more tired on defense than you do on offense. You get to rest on offense, so I’m encouraged about that.”
Miller exacerbated his ankle injury a year ago by admittedly returning to practice with the U.S. team too quickly, and he was ineffective in the 2002 World Basketball Championship. He sat out the first 12 games of the regular season, the longest absence of his career. Carlisle knows Miller’s desire to play, but also trusts the veteran’s judgment.
“First of all, the guy knows is body pretty well,” Carlisle said. “He’s 38 years old and he’s been in this thing for 16 years and he’s the only one that knows for sure how he feels. If there’s a situation where he needs to back off, then he understands and he needs to tell the coaching staff about it. I’m going to let him go for now and see how it goes.”
Fast Breaks …
Kenny Anderson suffered a mild strain of his left hamstring midway through Sunday’s practice, but it is not believed to be serious. … Carlisle gave the players Sunday night off, but they’ll resume two-a-days on Monday morning. … The team will hold its annual scrimmage for Conseco Fieldhouse suite-holders on Monday evening.
