The Indiana Pacers reached the conference finals last season behind an elite offense. Tyrese Haliburton appeared to have his superstar breakout and the addition of Pascal Siakam made Indiana a serious threat. The Pacers had increased expectations heading into the year, which has made winning six of their first 15 games even more disappointing. Myles Turner talked about an attitude shift, but Indiana has lost two straight since and is in trouble if Haliburton does not play better.
Fans are already discussing trades and ways to improve the roster, but it starts with their superstar. The 24-year-old is averaging 15.3 points on 37.5 percent shooting from the field to begin the season. His counting stats are down virtually across the board, despite playing two more minutes per game. Haliburton has not been good enough.
The point guard’s poor play has trickled down their roster. Their elite offense is gone, and fans are left questioning how to fix it. Haliburton played through injury last season and suffered another ailment during his stint with Team USA. Is he injured? This talk won’t be easy, but it should shed light on where Hali must improve if the Pacers plan on returning to contention.
The Pacers need more from Tyrese Haliburton to be elite
The Pacers star played through a hamstring injury last season to earn third-team All-NBA honors and a much larger contract extension. He helped Indiana reach the conference finals, but the long-term impacts may be greater than anyone thought.
The Pacers finished second in offensive rating and pace last season. They got 102.16 possessions per game and scored 120.5 points per 100 possessions. In the first 15 games of this season, Indiana’s offensive rating has shrunk to 112.0 and their pace is down to 100.41. Rick Carlisle’s run-and-gun offense was the team’s hallmark, but it is significantly less effective without Haliburton playing like a star.
Brian Windhorst pointed to Haliburton moving slower (subscription required) earlier this season and his lack of confidence is evident. The 24-year-old does not believe his jumpers will fall and the team is not running as much. Carlisle and the Pacers would love for both to tick up, but that is easier said than done.
Haliburton is a career 38.6 percent 3-point shooter and has never shot below 36.4 percent for a season. He will make more jumpers, but the pace and offensive creation may not return. Whether he is injured or just struggling to trust his legs is up for debate. Fans can clearly see he is hesitant to shoot and is not the dominant force he was a season ago.
Tyrese Haliburton is still one of the 20 best players in the NBA when healthy and confident. The 24-year-old must believe he can run the top offense and sink every shot to return to that level. Fans have not seen that Haliburton since last season.
He could be just one or two games from a turnaround, but this is a situation worth monitoring. If it is just confidence, that could return at any moment. Fans cannot rule out an injury, which may not heal until Haliburton takes time off. The Pacers cannot afford to play without their star but need him to be better if they want to be a serious contender.
Things are uncomfortable right now but always bet on talent. Hali will eventually bounce back. The Indiana Pacers are just waiting for the moment and praying that playing through injury last season did not permanently impact his stellar production.