It’s important to preface this hypothetical question, originally posed by SB Nation’s Tom Ziller, with a quick overview of some of the itchy sweater-like qualities each of the last few seasons have possessed which seemingly made the Pacers an endless loop of tough hang.
Recall, for instance, that the playoff lives of the 2013-14 second-half swoon, “selfish dudes” Pacers hinged, in part, upon whether Atlanta’s Pero Antic (who is no longer in the league) would miss the open threes that Roy Hibbert (also no longer in the league) couldn’t contest.