The Indiana Pacers miss Tyrese Haliburton this season. Unfortunately for them, they will not get to see the two-time All-NBA guard back on the court until next year as he recovers from an Achilles injury.
Indiana began the season with a 1-13 record, and it looks like a mess in nearly every area. The team's 105.5 offensive rating and 108.9 points per game both rank as the second-worst in the NBA. Plus, their 119.5 defensive rating ranks as the sixth-worst, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
The Pacers are not making their shots, and they look bad defensively (even by their standards). They are resembling more of a G League team than an NBA team at this rate, and it's not hard to figure out why. The team has dealt with a lot of injuries to key players this season, but more than that, they are greatly missing Haliburton's playmaking and facilitation skills. This season is all about the next man up, but without the Wisconsin native out there, it's incredibly difficult for each player to make the jump the team is asking them to make.
The Pacers are missing Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton is perfect in Indiana for so many reasons. He can score and shoot at all three levels, but more importantly, he is among the best in the NBA at facilitating and making quick decisions efficiently. In his first three full seasons with the Pacers, he averaged 10.2 assists to just 2.1 turnovers.
His presence alone takes a lot of pressure off the rest of his teammates, particularly guys like Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith. It's much more difficult for opposing defenses to key in on certain players because Haliburton is a threat to score and set up his teammates perfectly.
With Haliburton, many players are able to just play their game and not have to do too much. This makes it easier for guys to step up when needed. However, this has not been the case this season.
Players like Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard are looking like massive disappointments. And it's because they are being tasked with doing a lot more than they can handle in Haliburton's absence. They are both in a sink-or-swim situation, and they're both sinking. And because of the Pacers' emphasis on ball movement and team basketball, the rest of the roster is feeling the effects of it as well.
The Pacers' offense is not looking good, and it's mostly because they are without Haliburton, who has been described as their engine. In November, head coach Rick Carlisle commented on how difficult it has been for the team to find shots without their star point guard.
“The lack of playmaking at the point position is a factor in the kind of shots that we’re getting," Carlisle said after the Pacers' 112-103 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
The season is still young, and there is a lot of time for the Pacers to figure it out. It probably won't be enough for them to make another run at the championship this season, but at least they can potentially get into a rhythm and get a better look at who or what can work for the long run.
Regardless, the Pacers are struggling greatly without Haliburton, and it's proving that their success may be too dependent on one player. Unfortunately for them, this is going to be the reality until they get their guy back on the court next season.