The key player for the Pacers in this playoff series was the one in black, sitting courtside, making his first appearance in Bankers Life Fieldhouse since Jan. 23. Victor Oladipo was so conspicuous by his absence that he dominated the conversation in the postgame locker room following Sunday's loss to Boston, which ended their season with the harsh reality of a four-game sweep.
"You can't help but think about that," Oladipo's co-captain, Thaddeus Young, said following their 104-96 defeat. "That's our guy. That's our guy who's taken us to the promised land time and time again.