INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was describing his offense recently, when he said this:

``Jermaine O'Neal and Ron and Al are our three horses,'' he said. ``Those guys are going to score.''

Someone missing?

How about Reggie Miller, the one player who has defined the Pacers for 17 seasons.

The 38-year old sharp shooter has taken a reduced role in the offense as the Pacers (20-8) have climbed to the top of the Eastern Conference, but coaches and teammates say he's as responsible as anyone for the team's success.

``What Reggie's done so far this year is really remarkable, particularly given his number of years, his age and given the fact he's coming off a major injury,'' Carlisle said. ``It's the kind of thing you don't see very often.''

Miller is averaging 9.4 points in 29 minutes this season, shooting 41 percent from 3-point range.

He is coming off a right ankle injury that required surgery and was one of the biggest reasons for his struggles last season, especially in the playoffs.

One of the game's great clutch shooters, Miller floundered in the playoffs last season, averaging just 9.2 points on 28 percent shooting.

``It was clear to me last year that he was not 100 percent healthy,'' said Carlisle, who coached the Detroit Pistons last season. ``Knowing Reggie the way I do, he was not right.''

This year, Miller has been more active on the floor after a summer of rehabilitation on the ankle. Carlisle has limited his minutes in hopes of keeping him fresh for a playoff run.

With the offense centered on O'Neal, Ron Artest and Al Harrington, Miller is often relegated to the role of decoy.

``My main focus isn't to score 20 points a game as it has been in years past,'' Miller said. ``We have other guys to do that. It's moreso to take pressure off our inside presence in Al and Jermaine.''

He does that by doing what he's done so well for so long _ shoot the 3. Miller might be a few years older and a few steps slower than the player who produced one of the most memorable playoff performances ever _ when he scored eight points in 8.9 seconds to beat the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals _ but the old man can still knock down the 3.

Despite a shooting slump over the last three games, Miller's 44 3-pointers are tied for 15th in the NBA. That forces opposing teams to extend their defense and takes pressure off O'Neal inside.

``Even when Reggie Miller's not shooting the ball much, not making shots, he still has an unmistakable impact on the game because you must guard him closely,'' Carlisle said.

The rest of the team is directly benefiting. O'Neal is averaging 20.3 points a game and Harrington has emerged as one of the top sixth men in the NBA.

``It's been great for me as I've progressed that he's willing to put the ball in my hands and say, 'You carry us,''' O'Neal said. ``He's been doing that for so many years.''

Carlisle approached Miller about 15 games ago, worried that the former All Star would become disenchanted and feel cast aside.

Instead of demanding the ball, however, Miller deferred to his younger teammates.

``What he's doing, really, is helping set this team up for the future,'' Carlisle said. ``And very few veteran players of his magnitude, in the history of the game, have been willing to make this type of concession in the latter part of their careers.''

He doesn't concede every night. Playing in his beloved Madison Square Garden, Miller scored 31 in a win over the Knicks on Nov. 15. He just passed Charles Barkley for 14th on the all-time scoring list with 23,759 points and is by far the league's leader in career 3-pointers made with 2,374.

Miller says he's just following the natural progression from rookie to star to role player.

``The times I am on the floor, I'm trying to be more of a complete player,'' Miller said.

His teammates have taken notice.

``In no way has he given any less to the game,'' Austin Croshere said. ``A lot of his teammates looked at it as a passing of the torch, and he's done it very unselfishly.''

Miller signed a two-year contract extension in August that allows him to end his career where it started _ in Indiana.

``I think the Hall of Fame is imminent for him,'' Carlisle said. ``Aside from the fact that the sight of Reggie Miller lacing up a 3-point shot is one of the classic images we've ever had in this game, Reggie Miller the person is going to make it easy for those guys to vote for.''