Part 4/11:
The league outsourced the assessment of Nesmith's injury to an independent physician, who concluded that Nesmith was able to play. This contradicted the Pacers' medical team, who maintained that Nesmith was injured and unable to participate. Rick Carlisle, the Pacers' head coach, criticized this process sharply, pointing out that the league’s reliance on a third-party doctor—who had no prior relationship with the players—appeared to undermine the team’s medical assessments.