Malcolm Brogdon could form a lethal Pacers backcourt with Tyrese Haliburton

The Indiana Pacers are now entering the final stretch of the season following the All-Star break. Luckily for them (is it really?), more reinforcements are slated to boost the team as they conclude an otherwise disappointing campaign in Malcolm Brogdon, who should be good to go after missing 27 of the team’s last 30 games with an Achilles injury.

Brogdon, one of the Pacers’ main cogs, projects to remain a featured part of the scoring attack, presumably starting next to Tyrese Haliburton, who has averaged an eye-popping double-double since arriving in the Circle City. Rick Carlisle and the coaching staff will finally get their first look at how a potential Brogdon-Haliburton backcourt could work.

Malcolm Brogdon could form a lethal backcourt with Tyrese Haliburton to bolster the Indiana Pacers

Functioning as the primary option for the bulk of the season, Malcolm Brogdon has played relatively well, logging 18.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game so far. However, miscast as a first option and volume shooter, Brogdon’s usual efficiency from the floor has taken a hit, with the combo guard shooting just 44.8 percent from the field, including a career-low 30.7 percent from behind the arc.

Narratives of play don’t usually change much within a season, especially with only a few games remaining, but for Brogdon, playing with Tyrese Haliburton could flip that script.

With Haliburton handling the rock and leading the show, the Indiana Pacers have morphed from a deliberate half-court heavy unit into a run-and-gun bunch. This should already be a better canvass for Brogdon, who has struggled serving as a bailout option when his rather predictable two-man play with Domantas Sabonis was disrupted.

In a more full-blown attack on the open floor, Brogdon should be able to provide a massive boost serving as a secondary playmaker next to Haliburton, as teams will surely try and streamline the younger guard from pacing the floor right after a rebound to limit his playmaking options. He is still very adept at finishing inside, particularly against smaller guards, giving the Pacers more leeway to score in the half-court when teams slow it down.

As we have seen in his Milwaukee tenure, Brogdon thrives as a wildcard option of some sort. He will still be functioning with more frequency as a ball-handler, but his shooting splits should go back or hover near their usual footing. Remember, Brogdon is a member of the uber-exclusive 50-40-90 club.

With Haliburton next to him, Brogdon should also be able to return to form on defense. He has dipped a bit in that department, often getting outran by speedier guards. However, Haliburton should now be tabbed to handle opposing point guards, pushing Brogdon to defend wings instead, where he is a lot more successful.

Some fans have not been too keen on Malcolm Brogdon remaining a part of the Indiana Pacers’ core, but it is not difficult to envision at all why playing next to Tyrese Haliburton could tilt the tides to his favor.

The Pacers may not win many games the rest of the way, but they have some interesting facets to look forward to. How Malcolm Brogdon fits into the current equation is one of them.