Tyrese Haliburton, the star point guard for the Indiana Pacers, is determined to address his performance issues after a rocky start in the playoffs. Ahead of the Pacers’ third playoff game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Haliburton pauses to think about the past week and how things have changed. In Game 2, he struggled in the first half, scoring just 3 points with 3 assists and 1-of-5 shooting from the field. The Pacers closed out the last period with a beautiful display of defense, only allowing 12 points. Despite this, they became inadequate, and Haliburton knew that it could do better.
Consider Game 1, where in the first half Haliburton constantly looked like he was flailing. He still found a way to score only 6 points and provide 3 assists on 2-for-4 shooting. In Game 2’s first quarter, the Pacers couldn’t throw a pea in the ocean, shooting just 35%. This performance tied their lowest first-half point total of the postseason. This lackadaisical beginning had many questioning Haliburton and his ability to make an every-night game-changing-type offensive impact.
Haliburton’s game fell off a cliff in Game 2 where he had a horrendous five turnovers. This was the most turnovers he’s had in a game this season, regular or post. At first, he had a difficult time getting past the Oklahoma City help defense, which resulted in several key turnovers. It doesn’t help that the opposing team’s swarming defensive pressure denied him easy access to the paint.
His second half effort in Game 2 was nothing short of spectacular. His overall offensive performance with 17 points and six assists. He put on a brilliant show during the home stretch, going 5-for-6 from the field in an electrifying fourth quarter. Of those, he connected on two attempts from deep. This late show out surge tells you all you need to know about his impact on the game when he’s got his game going.
Reflecting on his performance, Haliburton stated, “I just got to figure out how to be better earlier in games. Kudos to them, they’re a great defensive team. I will watch the film, see where I can get better.”
The series is knotted at one game each. Haliburton and the Pacers are as hungry as ever to make sure they get home court advantage in Indianapolis. Myles Turner, for his part, highlighted the fact that there are different ways to facilitate Haliburton’s return to his offensive rhythm. He noted, “There are plenty of formulas to get Tyrese Haliburton going,” indicating a collective effort by the team to support their star player.
At its best — an often chaotic, free-wheeling style that often starts inside out — Haliburton’s game is predicated on the threat of dangerous penetration and playmaking. The Thunder’s defense has made it very hard for him to play out this strong game plan. “They collapse and then make plays there, but I thought we could improve a lot there,” Haliburton remarked. He praised Oklahoma City’s defensive capabilities, mentioning, “They’re flying around. They got great point of attack defenders. They got great rim protectors. They’re a great defense.”
Beyond his playoff woes this season, Haliburton has experienced a tumultuous last few weeks on the hardwood. He was held to only 8 points in a Game 5 defeat to the New York Knicks that sent them packing in the conference finals. Against the Cleveland Cavaliers in round two, he managed a combined 15 points in Games 3 and 4. Despite these setbacks, he remains committed to learning from each game, stating, “Through the course of a series, even in the games that you lose, you’re trying to learn from them, see where you can get better.”
With Game 3 looming, Haliburton knows it will be crucial to get into his offensive rhythm from the jump. His ability to adapt and respond to Oklahoma City’s defensive schemes will be crucial for the Pacers’ success moving forward in this tightly contested playoff series.
Leave a Reply