INDIANAPOLIS – The Mavericks have stayed afloat this season in the short stretches that they have had to play without All-Star point guard Luka Doncic.
Imagine having to play without him for an entire season.
That was reality for the Indiana Pacers, being without Victor Oladipo for the equivalent of a full NBA season.
The Indiana guard missed exactly 82 games (35 at the end of last season and the first 47 this season) after rupturing a quad muscle. And yet, the Pacers made the playoffs last season and are fifth in the Eastern Conference standings this year.