The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder are tied 1-1 in the NBA Finals. For the Pacers to move forward and pull off what most would consider an upset, they need the best version of Tyrese Haliburton possible, and that means they need him to be aggressive with his shot attempts once again, but the Thunder have made that impossible.
One of Haliburton's biggest flaws is that he is not an aggressive shooter, and it can sometimes be a big problem for Indiana. In each of the first two games of the series, the Wisconsin native has attempted 13 field goals. According to StatMuse, the Pacers are 14-2 when Haliburton attempts 17 or more field goals in a game this season. Furthermore, they are a perfect 6-0 when he attempts 19 or more field goals.
Against a team like Oklahoma City, the Pacers need to bring their A-game, and that includes a much more aggressive Haliburton. A lot of it will depend on how they can counter the Thunder's elite defense, but whatever it takes, the Pacers need their star guard to continue leading the way.
Tyrese Haliburton is leaving a lot to be desired in the NBA Finals
Heading into the series, it was no secret that the Pacers would have a difficult time going up against the Thunder, who have one of the best defensive units the league has seen in recent history. Because of this, Haliburton's offense has taken a huge hit, especially since they have done a good job of getting the ball out of his hands.
Through the first two games of the series, Haliburton is averaging 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1.5 blocks. Additionally, he is shooting 50% from the field but 33.3% from the three-point line. Haliburton has also committed eight total turnovers through two games, including five during the Pacers' Game 2 loss. He is still making an impact, and this was proven late in Game 1, but the 25-year-old must get things back on track for the team to have a shot the rest of the way.
The Pacers are not playing their best basketball, but even so, the series is tied as both teams head to Indiana. There is still a lot of basketball left, and the series is not even close to being over. However, the Pacers have a great opportunity to apply some pressure and take another game or two before going back to Oklahoma City. In order for them to do so, however, they need to play the brand of basketball that got them here in the first place, and it all starts with Haliburton.