The Pacers started a string of deep playoff runs in the mid-1990s after losing in the first round four consecutive years before reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 1994.

The current incarnation of the Pacers missed the playoffs from 2007 until 2010 before losing in the first round against the Bulls in 2011, and pushing the eventual champion Heat to six games this May.

After spending 18 seasons with the team, Reggie Miller still keeps tabs on the Pacers and sees some parallels.

“When you look at those playoff games, at the fans, it reminded me a lot of 1994 and 1995,” Miller said on Thursday at the Basketball Hall of Fame. “The enthusiasm was there. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen that and I’m glad to see that it’s come back.”

Miller believes the Pacers could take another step forward as early as next season.

“They had the third-best record in the conference last year,” he continued. “With the injury to Derrick Rose, I look for them to win the Central Division this year. To push Miami to six games and have a two-to-one game lead in that series, their great young players, the team is on the rise.”