Business is always best conducted without emotion, but Larry Bird has to admit that he can't help himself.

He couldn't have conceived finishing his career in anything but a Celtics uniform. And now that Indiana's new general manager is responsible for ensuring that Reggie Miller remains a Pacer, Bird finds it very easy to put himself in the 37-year-old free agent's sneakers.

``Players always want more, but I'm sure that Reggie and his agent know what we have left,'' Bird said. ``From my experience in Boston, I know how great it is to play your entire career in one place - to retire with the same team.

``And when I first came in here (this summer), I made it pretty clear. I said it was my goal to make sure that Reggie stayed here.''

Bird, however, also realizes that the NBA he remembers is fading from reality very quickly.