Indiana Pacers fans suffered through NBA hell last season, but they did so fresh off a near-championship campaign and with the knowledge that the team could be even better the following year. Well, they are either stuck in a time loop or enduring the worst injury luck imaginable. Either way, the anguish continues. Pascal Siakam is curiously being ruled out for Monday's game versus the Atlanta Hawks due to rest, which means the home team will be frighteningly thin.

The All-Star forward joins a list of inactive Pacers players that includes Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring strain), Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain), Andrew Nembhard (cervical injury management), Aaron Nesmith (left hamstring injury management), T.J. McConnell (right hamstring strain), Ben Sheppard (left meniscus surgery) and Johnny Furphy (ACL repair). Additionally, Larry Nance Jr. is considered doubtful and Obi Toppin is questionable.

Someone get the custodian a pair of shorts. Indiana has dropped four straight games since starting the season 2-1 and is seemingly trending toward another loss on Monday night. The injury avalanche just keeps accelerating.

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Perhaps head coach Rick Carlisle deemed it prudent to sit Siakam since his roster is depleted anyway, but the paying fans who are flocking to Gainbridge Fieldhouse would surely prefer to see the Pacers play their best available guys for what is only the eighth game of the season.

Ahead of Indiana's second back-to-back of the year, Carlisle is taking a cautious approach versus the Hawks. Pascal Siakam will cheer on his squad from the bench, but he should be prepared for a tough watch.