It was just one play, one defensive stop. But when a point guard known for everything but defense forces the NBA's best player into a turnover on a potential game-winning possession, it stands out.
That's why, when Darren Collison was being interviewed in the Pacers' victorious locker room Friday, Victor Oladipo was shouting "Defensive Player of the Year!" from across the room. And that's why Lance Stephenson was chiming in with "DC! DC!" from another angle of the room.
Collison, all 6-foot, 175 pounds of him, wound up isolated on the right baseline against LeBron James in the waning moments of the Pacers' game against Cleveland Friday, having inherited the dirty job after calling for a defensive switch with Stephenson.