The 2023 NBA Finals couldn’t be more exciting! The first round matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers is currently knotted up at one game a piece following a very intense Game 2. The Thunder’s defense has given the Pacers fits, especially for high-scoring star guard Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton’s struggles in Game 2, where he committed five turnovers and scored just five points in the first three quarters, have raised questions about his performance and the Pacers’ strategy moving forward.
In Game 2, Haliburton’s passiveness stood out like a sore thumb. He attempted only six shots in the fourth quarter alone. That’s one shot fewer than he took in the three previous quarters combined. That lack of offensive production really did hold back the Pacers. It has been the biggest reason for their failure to build a comfortable series lead. OKC’s defense, especially the work of Luguentz Dort, has done a remarkable job of limiting Haliburton’s effect on the game. Now with both teams wanting to assert themselves and take control, the next two games are crucial in deciding each of their fates.
Haliburton Faces Defensive Challenges
Tyrese Haliburton has had a tough time getting into a groove against what the Thunder have done defensively. In Game 1, Oklahoma City threw eight different defenders at him, with Dort being the most successful. Dort’s defensive wizardry limited Haliburton to a 0-for-2 shooting line from the field.
To make matters worse, in Game 2, Haliburton’s play actually got worse. He threw five turnovers, a career high for any game—playoff or regular season—for him. A more troubling pattern has developed in his turnovers. He’s turned the ball over three or more times in each of the last three games, a stretch we haven’t experienced since last March. His lack of ability to consistently hold onto the ball negatively impacts his ability to score. It kills the whole rhythm of the Pacers’ offense.
If Haliburton continues to falter, the Pacers will have to find more offensive avenues to help carry the load for him. His performance would be crucial, as the team has relied on him all playoffs long. They will have to be more creative and strategic to try to take advantage of Oklahoma City’s defensive structure.
Siakam’s Underwhelming Performance
Adding to Indiana’s worries is Pascal Siakam’s dominance in this series. Siakam is still figuring things out and has not shot the ball more than 15 times in either game thus far. His ability to score has been one of the most important factors for the Pacers success in the playoffs. In all of those games leading up to the Finals, he consistently dropped 21 points or more in half of those games.
History shows that Siakam has been at his best when he’s been allowed to shoot 16-plus shots a game. At least, that was the case in wins for the decisive Eastern Conference finals where he continuously hit this mark. By comparison, he shot less than 14 times in each of the two losses. Siakam will have to find another gear offensively if Indiana hopes to get back in this series. He needs to take the opportunities that the Thunder’s poor defense provides him.
The pressure will be immediate on Siakam to remodel his game and re-shape the offense to take some of the weight off Haliburton’s shoulders. If he’s able to improve his scoring efficiency – that’s going to pay huge dividends. Being less reactive and more proactive on offense could tip the scales back in Indiana’s favor.
Thunder’s Dominance and Depth
The Oklahoma City Thunder have exemplified their depth all across this series, building even further on it with their fearsome bench mob. In Game 2, they really opened the floodgates when going against the Pacers’ bench. Second, it highlighted their depth to continue to play at such a high level with their starters on the foul-plagued bench.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with an impressive 34 points in Game 2, further solidifying his position as a key player for the Thunder. Getting buckets It’s one thing to score, and another to score efficiently while getting teammates involved.
Not only that, the Thunder’s size advantage on the boards has been pretty clear. They had Indiana on the boards, pulling down four more offensive rebounds with an equal number of chances. Part of Indiana’s recent nightmare has been their lack of success in second-chance points. Entering the 4th quarter of Game 2, they were already a minus-16 in points given up in the paint.
The combination of a deeper bench, stellar individual performances, and effective rebounding strategies places Oklahoma City in a favorable position as they prepare for Game 3.
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