Isiah Thomas blew his whistle, but practice wasn't over. It was time to run.

Thomas, the second-year coach of the Indiana Pacers, had his team run suicide drills.

Run, touch the line, run back. Run, touch two lines, come back and so forth until all the lines on the court had been touched. It's the kind of drill most players dread, especially in the exhibition season.

Some players ran at more of a brisk pace than a sprint, while others stopped short of crossing the line or bending over to touch the midcourt of free-throw lines.

Not Reggie Miller.

Miller ran like a rookie trying to make the team. His sneakers always crossed the line. His long, lanky arms --- the ones that have made him famous with each game-winning 3-pointer, always touched the line with the same enthusiasm and dedication he had when he was the Pacers' first-round draft pick in 1987.

''I don't get tired of it,'' he said. ''Of course, you have better days than others, but I still get excited coming to the arena for practice and games. I think that once that leaves, it will be time for me to leave.''

At 36, he trains like a player who hasn't accomplished anything.

''I still get nervous before games,'' he said. ''Looking down at the opposing 2-guard, I still get excited for the rivalry no matter who it is. I always think I'm going to have my hands full, and I want to make sure they have their hands full.''

After losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the 2000 NBA Final, the Pacers lost four starters over the summer. Miller was a free agent before re-signing for three more years.