The Pacers won their fifth straight game on Jan. 20, beating the Golden State Warriors 102-94 in Oakland to reach 26 games above .500. It was a night of poignant memories and a moment to take stock, especially for George.

On a night early in the 2012-13 season, the underachieving Pacers were beaten in Oakland at the end of a long trip, a night when George went 0-for-7 and scoreless. He had a sleepless night on the charter back to Indianapolis and drove straight from the airport to the arena to take jumpers at 5 a.m., the dawn of him rededicating himself to improving his game. "That game changed everything, for our franchise and for him," Vogel remembers. "Because his oh-fer that night forced him to change his approach."

Two seasons later, George was back in Oakland leading a victory fresh off being named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week with a maximum contract in his pocket. The Pacers were at the top of the standings, winning tough road games and never feeling better about their chances to compete for the title.