Scroll down to watch my video explaining why Tyrese Haliburton has not been “aggressive” in the NBA Finals and what the Indiana Pacers need to do to get him going.
Tyrese Haliburton is one of the NBA’s most unique stars. He is the Pacers’ offensive engine, but he is neither their leading scorer, nor the player who takes the most shots on their team. He is the conductor of one of the NBA’s most balanced offensive attacks.
When the Pacers have a bad game in the NBA Playoffs, however, there are almost always calls for him to be more aggressive. It happened last season against the Knicks in the second round. It happened in the second round and Eastern Conference finals this season. And it’s happening again in the NBA Finals after two games in which Haliburton has been ineffective outside of his memorable near-buzzer-beater in Game 1.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s outstanding defense deserves credit for slowing Haliburton down. Lu Dort, in particular, has played a critical role in pressuring Haliburton full court and not letting the Pacers’ star get comfortable.
Still, there’s no doubt the Pacers could use a more aggressive Haliburton to boost their chances of winning the NBA title. The question is, what does that look like for such a cerebral player?
While being more “aggressive” might mean taking more shots for some stars, the Pacers will not necessarily be better just by virtue of Haliburton taking 20 shots. That may help, but the solution is far more nuanced. Ultimately, as I explain in this video, the key for Haliburton will be getting into the paint more while still creating for his teammates.
(Photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)