The Indiana Pacers traded for Tyrese Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings before the NBA trade deadline came to an end. Indiana traded its former All-Star Domantas Sabonis for the promising point guard as the team looks to build a new roster.
Sabonis gave the Pacers everything he had in his five seasons with the team. From being the leader of the second unit to 2X All-Star, the team will certainly miss his efficiency and toughness on the court.
How will the Indiana Pacers offense operate without Sabonis’ ability to set up his teammates and activeness on the glass?
Well, there’s no need to panic. Although Sabonis averaged a double-double in points and rebounds, after two games, Indiana still has a player averaging a double-double in points and assists. The sample is small, but nonetheless, there has been substantial output for the new Pacer.
Enter Tyrese Haliburton. In his first game in a Pacers uniform, he played 39 minutes in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In that time, he scored a team-high 23 points and 6 assists along with 3 steals.
He looked comfortable in his new city, shooting 9/15 from the field – hitting 4 of his 6 three-point shots as well. The young guys had Gainbridge Fieldhouse on their feet, Including Chris Duarte and Oshae Brissett.
Although it was a tough loss for the newcomers, the fanbase can see the potential in what these players will bring to a Rick Carlisle offense. I mean, they scored a season-high 47 points in the first quarter against these Cavs and shot the ball very efficiently.
On the flip side of his high scoring, Haliburton had a few more turnovers than he would have liked. He finished the game with six.
"“I was really bad in the fourth, I got to be better at getting the ball into spots and being better, I think we will be better in the fourth moving on. We are a young team, learning and growing so I think communication is going to help us”, Haliburton said.Six turnovers, thats not who I am at all. I think I had a couple really bad ones that were pretty costly, so I am hard on myself and I want to be better, I will be better… Rome wasnt built in one day.”"
His second game with the Pacers can be described as an improvement, even though he scored fewer points.
Haliburton scored 22 points in his second game with the Pacers and cut his turnovers in half with just three against the Timberwolves.
On top of his 22 points, he dished out 16 assists which was just one shy of his career-high 17 assists. The first double-double of his Pacers career.
The minutes continue to be higher than ideal for Haliburton, who played 40 minutes in his second game with the team. He was able to hit 6 of his 12 three-point shots, going 7/14 overall.
Although Isaiah Jackson re-injured his ankle against Cleveland, there were a few promising plays from Haliburton to Jackson that were enjoyable before that injury.
Even the connection with Duarte and Haliburton has been something to note, they both led the team in scoring against the Cavaliers alongside Oshae Brissett.
The Pacers’ offense has seen an increase in Pace, which even Rick Carlisle has noted. Adding a player to the roster that compliments the young core that Indiana currently has makes this trade much more meaningful.
This is the future of Indiana Pacers basketball. Trading a player like Sabonis is going to hurt the team in the short term, but after this season, the team needs to think towards the future and that is what they have done.
However, there is potential here with Haliburton in line to be the next face of Indiana basketball and his first two games here have given fans much to be excited about.