In 2004, Reggie Miller was 38 years old, he averaged just 10 points per game and took a backseat to guys like Jermaine O'Neal and Metta World Peace. Still, he was crucial to a 61-win effort and a regular season nERD of 66.7 under head coach Rick Carlisle.

O'Neal anchored the league's third-best defense -- one that took the Indiana Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals. There, their luck finally ran out against the NBA-champion Detroit Pistons.