Through two games in the NBA Finals, it is clear that the Indiana Pacers are a significantly better team when Tyrese Haliburton is on the court, and they need to extend his minutes and play him as much as possible from here on out.
So far, the Pacers have a +3.3 net rating when Haliburton is on the court in the NBA Finals and a -34.9 net rating when he is on the bench. This is far from ideal, but it also sends a big message: the Pacers need their star guard in the game as much as possible. They struggle greatly when he is on the court, especially in favor of T.J. McConnell, who is not the best fit for the Pacers against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Instead, Haliburton should take some of McConnell's minutes for the rest of the series.
The series, which is tied 1-1, is heading back to Indiana for Games 3 and 4, and the Pacers will have a great opportunity to take a lead in the series again. In order for them to capitalize on their talent, the Pacers need to keep relying on their top guys, which includes Haliburton, who should be in line for more reps.
Tyrese Haliburton is still crucial to Indiana despite his struggles
After two games, the Wisconsin native is averaging 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1.5 blocks in the NBA Finals. Furthermore, in the first two games, he shot 50% from the field and 33.3% from the three-point line. Haliburton still provides a major boost to the Pacers even when his scoring and efficiency are down, and this is largely because of his playmaking and facilitating abilities.
Additionally, as has been the case throughout the playoffs, Haliburton shows up when the Pacers need him the most, particularly in the clutch. Haliburton made the game-winning field goal in Game 1 to secure Indiana's stunning late comeback victory, and the team will now head back home with a win in the series because of it.
Despite walking away with a win in Oklahoma City, the Pacers are still the underdogs to win the series. If they want to pull off what most would consider an upset against the best team in the NBA, they need to play their top guys as much as possible. This is especially true for Haliburton, who gives the Pacers their best chance to win, even if he is not playing at his best.
The Pacers are just three wins away from their first-ever NBA Championship, and they still have some momentum in their favor. However, the series is far from over, and they still have a lot of work to do to send the Thunder packing. It has been a fantastic run up to this point, but the Pacers did not get this close just to lose in the NBA Finals. To give themselves the best chances of winning it all, they need to go all in on Haliburton's minutes as they need him now more than ever.