updated 7:56 p.m. ET May 20, 2004

INDIANAPOLIS - Anthony Johnson knows what it’s like to play in the Eastern Conference finals. That makes him fairly unique among his Indiana Pacers teammates.

As the Pacers prepare for their first Eastern Conference finals appearance since 2000, only Johnson, Reggie Miller and Austin Croshere have played significant minutes in the series.

That’s why Indiana’s surprisingly hard-fought second-round win over Miami was so important.

The Heat challenged Indiana every step of the way in their six games, allowing the younger Pacers to gain valuable experience of playing big games deep in the playoffs.

“It was good for us to face some adversity against Miami,” said Johnson, who played in the Eastern Conference and NBA Finals the last two years with the New Jersey Nets. “The first series with Boston we really didn’t face any adversity. We took it to them and were able to get that out of the way.

“Against Miami, losing two tough games on the road, that’s going to prepare us for this upcoming series.”

Miami posted convincing wins at home in Games 3 and 4, testing the resilience of a team that had little playoff experience after being eliminated in the first round three straight years.

Al Harrington, Jeff Foster and Jonathan Bender all were on the team that reached the NBA Finals in 2000, but mostly watched the veteran-laden team in the postseason.

This year, they’ve been right in the middle of the action. And as Johnson says, there’s no substitute for being on the court at crunch time.

“You really can’t experience it until you’re out there between the lines getting after it,” Johnson said. “It’s tough when you watch it to really get a good measuring stick as far as the intensity. When you’re between the lines, you really get that experience that you need to be successful and help your team win ballgames.”

Playoff experience or not, everyone responded in Game 6 at Miami on Tuesday. The Pacers snapped the Heat’s 18-game home winning streak and clinched the series with a 73-70 win.

“Game 6 is a good indicator of what the Eastern Conference finals will be like,” Johnson said.

The Pacers’ performance in raucous AmericanAirlines Arena gave coach Rick Carlisle reason for cautious optimism.

“The Miami series was a very good experience for all of our guys, especially going on the road and really finding out what playoff basketball beyond the first round is like on the road,” Carlisle said. “The fact that we were able to pull it back together and win in Game 6 bodes well, but it certainly doesn’t guarantee us anything as we move forward.”

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals is on Saturday in Indianapolis against the winner of Thursday’s Game 7 between New Jersey and Detroit.

Both the Pistons and the Nets hold a considerable edge over the Pacers in playoff experience, but that gap is closing with every game the Pacers play.

“It means a lot to us as a young team,” said Bender, who has emerged as a big key off the bench this year. “It feels a whole lot better to be out there and feel like you’re contributing to the team.”

Harrington said he’s just happy to be out there playing this time around.

“Now I’m just having a lot of fun, being able to be a part of it,” Harrington said. “Before, I was over on the cheerleading row. It’s a great thing to get out there and get that experience.”

More news

Jim Rogash / Getty Images

Not in his house

Rajon Rondo had 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 85-75 in Game 7 on Saturday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

CSN: Rondo's big-game DNA shines  |  Highlights

CSN: You may not see it from start to finish, but when the game — or in this case, postseason life — is on the line, you see just how good Rajon Rondo can be.

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