Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton was the driving force behind the team’s victory at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Tyrese Haliburton has laid down the gauntlet to the Cleveland Cavaliers with an emphatic Game 1 performance in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
The number one seed Cavaliers were defeated 112-121 at home to the Indiana Pacers, an eye-opening result to begin their NBA Playoff series.
The Indiana Pacers are now 5-1 in the playoffs so far, after coming through their series with the Milwaukee Bucks with ease, and are aiming to reach the conference finals for a second successive year, where either the Celtics or Knicks await.
Sunday 4th May Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers
112|121
Indiana PacersIndiana Pacers
Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty ImagesTyrese Haliburton making leadership look easy
Tyrese Haliburton has revelled in his role with the Indiana Pacers ever since the Sacramento Kings traded him away in 2022.
Selected for the NBA All-Star game in 2024 held in Indiana, Haliburton was asked a question about LeBron James‘ early years with the Cleveland Cavaliers where he displayed his ultra-confident mindset.
He was asked: “LeBron was saying, when he was young and he had to be the face of a franchise, that was a lot of pressure for him, and he felt very stressed… how are you adapting to being the face of this franchise?”
Haliburton swatted aside these concerns, pointing out that he has not been stressed by the pressure, instead welcoming the challenge.
“I think I’ve handled it pretty well,” he responded, before adding: “I think as professional athletes, we’re human beings at the end of the day. I think what you put off surface level is different than, we’re all humans and we all have emotions and good days and bad days.
“I think the reason I’ve had success leading my franchise is the people around me and the trust that’s put in me, it’s a big responsibility for me, and I’m completely understanding of that. Yeah, just trying to do a good job with it.”
One year on, Tyrese Haliburton continues to handle everything in his stride ‘pretty well’, and then some.
Haliburton has been a star performer through the playoffs, already totalling more than 100 points and 70 assists through his opening six games.
While he generously praised teammate Andrew Nembhard as the ‘head of the snake’, there is no doubt it was Haliburton who was the key to the win.
He has embraced the trust in him and is delivering on the highest stage, game after game.
There is absolutely no sign of the ‘stress’ of leading his team that LeBron James referred to, his performances show he is playing more freely than ever, even at the most pressurized time of year.
How Tyrese Haliburton played
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Tyrese Haliburton was the key to the Indiana Pacers’ offense in a high-level fast-paced game against the top seed Cavaliers, who were missing injured star Darius Garland.
The data shows how effective Haliburton was, with 60 per cent shooting accuracy, and his 13 assists helped the Pacers scythe through the Cavaliers.
Haliburton is averaging 11.8 assists with 71 in six playoff games to date, where he is showcasing his leadership on the court.
The former Kings star is supplying the passes for his teammates to score, while averaging 18.3 points per game in the playoffs himself.
Going back to his confident ‘overrate that’ message after his clutch game winner to ice the series against the Bucks, the bigger the moment is, the greater the spotlight, the more likelihood is Haliburton will step up.