Even though Tyrese Haliburton will be out for all of next season, the Indiana Pacers have a tremendous system and can still be successful. In case fans forgot, Obi Toppin just sent a crucial reminder.
Recently, the Brooklyn native spoke about how the Pacers can move forward without their star guard. In doing so, Toppin sent a crucial reminder that Indiana has a special brand of basketball that everybody on the team has bought into. Even without Haliburton, the Pacers are going to keep playing basketball the best way they know how, and it could lead to the team having much more success than some are anticipating (h/t Tony East of Forbes).
“Tyrese brings so much to the team and it’s not hidden. Everybody understands what he brings to the game. So it’s just something that everybody on the team gotta do while we’re out there, just doing a little extra, knowing what we’re missing and knowing what we need out there on the court,” Toppin said of the team without Haliburton. “And just continue playing Pacers basketball. We built a system here, and I feel like everybody is bought into the system. That’s why we’ve been so successful. And if we continue doing that, we’re going to still be great.”
"I feel like everybody is bought into the system. That’s why we’ve been so successful. And if we continue doing that, we’re going to still be great."
— Tony East (@TonyREast) September 22, 2025
Obi Toppin believes in himself and the Pacers system. He will be important in any Pacers style: https://t.co/gZW6EmFf2P pic.twitter.com/PtNoccwUuW
Toppin is entering his third season with the Pacers and will look to further prove his value to the team.
Each of his first two years in Indiana were the best of his NBA career as he has greatly developed on both sides of the ball and has become much more of a team player. As the Pacers prepare for what many are calling a "gap year," they will need Toppin to take that next step more than ever as the team looks to stay afloat and remain competitive.
The Pacers can still be a solid team without Tyrese Haliburton
Not having Haliburton on the court next season will be brutal for the Pacers, and they are going to feel his absence. However, they still have a good team even without him that can all play well alongside each other. Another deep playoff run is highly unlikely, but the Pacers can still make some noise in the Eastern Conference, even given their situation.
In Haliburton's absence, Indiana will slide Andrew Nembhard over to the point full-time. It remains to be seen exactly how the Canadian native will do in this role, but in the limited opportunities he has had to be the team's primary point guard, he has looked good. This is not ideal, but there are reasons to believe that this could work. Nembhard is more than capable of running the show for a season, especially if Indiana opts to change their offensive style to play to his strengths.
Haliburton is a fantastic fit in Indiana because he can push the tempo in transition and relies heavily on improvisation, which is perfect for their run-and-gun offense. Additionally, he is an incredibly efficient passer and playmaker and knows how to set up his teammates the best due to his quick decision-making. This is not exactly the case for Nembhard, however, who has his own set of strengths.
Nembhard's strengths are as a shifty ball-handler, making him better suited for a more traditional offense that relies on set plays in the half-court. It remains to be seen if Indiana will change their offense for next season to focus on this, but it could be a smart move for them to do so, considering that they are still looking to make an impact in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers' outlook for next season may look pretty bleak, but they do their best work when they are being counted out. They have shocked the basketball world before, and there are reasons to believe they can do it again.