Through two games of the NBA Finals, one thing is crystal clear: the Indiana Pacers need Tyrese Haliburton to provide more as a scorer. Against a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder, that is an incredibly difficult task, though there is one solution, which is to play Haliburton off the ball more to give him more scoring opportunities. On paper, this might be a good idea, but if the Pacers opt to change their offensive dynamic and take the ball out of their star guard's hands, then the Thunder may have already won the series before it is even over.
The Pacers are as successful as they are offensively largely because of what Haliburton brings to the table. He is a fantastic scorer, but more importantly, he is one of the best facilitators and playmakers in the NBA today. The Wisconsin native is among the best at taking care of the ball, even with his high usage. Haliburton provides a lot of value as a scorer, and it is clear that the Pacers thrive when he is an aggressive shooter. However, taking him off the ball would be a huge mistake that could cost them the series.
The Pacers do not have a better option than Tyrese Haliburton
Hypothetically speaking, if Indiana decides to move Haliburton off the ball, they would have to rely on their next best option, which would either be Andrew Nembhard or T.J. McConnell off the bench. Against the Thunder, Nembhard provides more value due to his ability to stretch the floor better. However, he is a big downgrade over Haliburton at the point, and that is a risk the Pacers cannot take.
From here on out, the Pacers must continue playing their brand of basketball, which includes a lot of ball movement. The Thunder finished the regular season with the best defense in the league for a reason, but the Pacers also have one of the best offensive units in the NBA for a reason. Something has to give, and while it may not be enough to neutralize Oklahoma City, Indiana needs to make things uncomfortable for them. In order to do that, they need the ball in Haliburton's hands as much as possible.
There is still plenty of basketball left, and both teams have reasons to feel confident about their odds in the series. However, the Pacers may have more ground to make up as they are considered the underdogs. Even so, they didn't make it this far by accident. They are still one of the most resilient and dynamic offensive teams in the league. A lot has to go right for them from here on out, but if Haliburton can remind everybody just how impactful he's been in the postseason so far, the Pacers would be in a great position to bring the Larry O'Brien Trophy home for the first time.