Well, I don't know.....

A lot of assumptions here. Maybe "The Best" is a different category for different people. Or wait, a new category! The Very Best. The Very Best backgammon players don't have to do the mat(c)h, because they already have. So for example Neil Kazaross would have already hit before the average Best Player realized the dice had come to rest. I know this sounds too good to be true, but I'm only saying it because I've SEEN HIM DO IT, in pretty much a similar position. Well, it was one of those desperado break-your-5-point-board to leave-two-blots-and-hit plays. Same sorta resulting game, no? He did it so "a tempo" you'd think there were no other plays. [As an aside, I remember the last time he and I played, I was proud of getting him to actually puzzle over some plays. His arms would be up in the air for a few seconds before he'd muscle the checkers into position.]

You could probably divide up the players on the Giant list into those who would stop and think here, do a bunch of attempts at calculation, and probably end up hitting, and the selection who would just make the right play. There might even be a few on that list who would find some other play. Oh well, it was just a vote after all...