If it was ever a question before, it certainly isn't one now: the Indiana Pacers are not the same team without Tyrese Haliburton.
Indiana is going to be without the Wisconsin native for the entire 2025-26 NBA season after he tore his Achilles early in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. It was never a doubt that it would be a challenge to replace him and his value, but it's looking even worse than most anticipated.
The Pacers are struggling heavily without Tyrese Haliburton
Nearly a month into the season, the Pacers are 1-12, sharing the title of worst record in the NBA alongside the Washington Wizards. And, no disrespect to Washington, but this is not good company for the Pacers to be in less than a year after being one win away from winning their first-ever NBA championship.
Indiana has a lot of problems right now. The team's center situation still looks like a mess, they are not making any shots, and they're not playing good defense. They are among the worst in the league at just about everything.
The Pacers, who are typically known for their elite and fast-paced offense, are averaging just 108.7 PPG this season, which is the second-worst in the NBA. For some context, this would be their lowest since the 2018-19 season, when they averaged 108 PPG. But at least that time had an elite defense, allowing a league-best 104.7 PPG.
Furthermore, Indiana's 105 offensive rating ranks dead-last in the NBA, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
Even beyond Haliburton's absence, the Pacers have dealt with some tough injuries to key players, making it difficult for them to maximize their potential.
T.J. McConnell missed the first few weeks of the regular season due to a hamstring injury, and Andrew Nembhard missed a couple of weeks after sustaining a shoulder injury in Indiana's season-opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Plus, Obi Toppin, Bennedict Mathurin, Johnny Furphy, and Quenton Jackson, among others, are all either currently sidelined or have also missed a notable amount of time due to injuries.
Even so, not having Haliburton on the court seems to be the Pacers' biggest obstacle.
The two-time All-Star is a crucial part of the Pacers' success for a reason. He is arguably the best passer, playmaker, and facilitator in the NBA. And given how important ball movement is in Indiana's system, that makes him the team's perfect point guard. Additionally, he is also a scoring threat of his own, averaging 19.5 PPG while shooting 48.2% from the field and 38.6% from beyond the arc during his stint with the Pacers.
Haliburton's ability to do all of this efficiently and while being able to push the tempo makes him essential to the team's success. And as the Pacers are quickly learning, just relying on a committee or a few players to make up for his absence doesn't work.
Even without the Iowa State alum, the Pacers are focused on spacing the floor, pushing the tempo, and moving the ball around. Their 329.8 passes per game rank as the third-most in the NBA, and it proves that they are still committing to what's worked for them in the past. The problem is, they're attempting to do it without the engine that has kept them running this whole time, and even head coach Rick Carlisle recognizes the struggles the team is facing.
Nembhard has been solid after a slow start to the season, averaging 18 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists this season. However, his strengths are different from Haliburton's as he is someone who excels in a traditional half-court set and can create advantages as a shifty ball-handler. While he can hold his own, the Canadian native is not someone who can push the tempo the way Haliburton can.
The rest of this season is essentially all about development for the Pacers. They are not going to compete for a championship, and even a postseason appearance looks like a dream for them at this point. From this point forward, it's all about just continuing to utilize the guys they currently have on the roster to see who or what works when they get Haliburton back on the court.
Then, and only then, will Indiana be ready to re-insert itself into the title picture.