By Simon Fishler
SportsLine NBA Editor

The Knicks' Larry Johnson has never been known as a 3-point shooter.

Maybe that's why the Indiana Pacers didn't respect his outside shot. And because of that, the Pacers could be on the outside of the NBA Finals looking in.

First, L.J. did the unbelievable, converting a four-point play to win Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Then his two triples late in Game 5 lifted the Knicks to within one game of the Finals.

Johnson said: "I don't consider myself a 3-point shooter, but I've got to keep the defense honest."

In his first three seasons in the NBA with Charlotte, L.J. never shot above 25 percent from behind the arc and for his seven years in the league he's shooting 33 percent. Not exactly Reggie Miller-like.

But we have to give it up to Johnson for his heroics last week. When the Knicks were in dire need of points, L.J. stepped up and bombed them past the Pacers and into the No. 1 slot on the sizzlin' chart. He's hit 9 of 22 triples in the conference finals (41 percent), and he's averaging 18.2 ppg on red-hot 55 percent field-goal shooting.

Even Indiana coach Larry Bird, who knows a thing or two about big shots, was impressed with Johnson's heroics.

"We need someone to step up and make the plays like Larry Johnson did for them," the Pacers coach said.

L.J.'s first blow to the Pacers' gut came in Game 3 when he somehow avoided contact with Antonio Davis, then stepped to the side and heaved in an a 25-footer. It's debatable whether the foul occurred in the act of shooting. L.J.'s hero status in New York isn't.

Late in a close battle in Game 5, Johnson stroked in the two long balls from basically the same spot on the court.

And, like it or not, he now is considered a 3-point threat.

Sizzlin' -- the countdown

5. Mailman delivers again

League MVP Karl Malone became the first player ever to make the All-NBA team 11 times.

4. Coaching carousel

Some new blood broke into the NBA coaching ranks as the Magic hired Doc Rivers. Could Isiah Thomas be next in line at Washington? Or what about Phil Jackson going to the Lakers … or Nets … or (gulp) Knicks?

3. Sticking with Spree

Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy took some heat for starting Latrell Sprewell in Game 4 after he fouled out with a mere 12 points on 6 of 14 shooting in a loss to Pacers. But Van Gundy stuck with Sprewell in Game 5 and the guard came through with a 29-point gem, including 13 of 14 from the line.

2. A perfect 10

The San Antonio Spurs are blowing through teams like M.J. and the Bulls, or Magic and the Lakers used to. The Spurs are only one game away from tying the Lakers' 1989 record of 11 consecutive playoff victories.

1. New hero in Big Apple

Larry Johnson praises Allah for big shots; Pacers cursing themselves for allowing them.

Fizzlin' ... The countdown

5. Down and out

Former Sonic and Blazer Dontonio Wingfield isn't going to be winning any smart-guy awards soon. He could be facing up to 18 months in jail after pleading guilty to assaulting two Cincinnati police officers. Wingfield broke a finger and tore tendons of an officer after police were called to investigate a domestic dispute.

4. Wormy wrestler

Dennis Rodman couldn't keep a job in the NBA, so he hooked up with World Championship Wrestling for a five-match stint this summer.

3. Mav-wrecks

Latest bummer for moribund franchise: The Mavericks were fined $25,000 for violating the NBA salary cap after coach/GM Don Nelson flew Mavs free agent Gary Trent and his family to his Maui digs for a week vacation. The Kings also were fined $25,000 after paying for an expense-paid weekend trip to Las Vegas for several players.

2. Refs weigh in

Remember the old adage, "Let the players decide the outcome of a game." Didn't happen in two Eastern Conference finals games last week. In Game 2, Chris Childs was called for a foul on Reggie Miller at the wire after it appeared Childs was just standing with arms straight up in front of the Pacers shooter. Miller won the game with two free throws. In the following game, the Knicks' Larry Johnson was ruled fouled in the act of shooting when it appeared Antonio Davis fouled him well before the shot. L.J. completed the four-point play and the Knicks went on to the victory.

1. Blazed away

Portland players, like Damon Stoudamire and Isaiah Rider, did more whining about playing time than scoring in getting broomed off by the Spurs. The Blazers set the mark for fewest points (304) in a four-game playoffs series.