It wasn't too long ago when Tyrese Haliburton was named the NBA's most overrated player in The Athletic's anonymous player poll. While he has proven he doesn't deserve that label, his hot-and-cold performances in the NBA Finals are endangering the perfect ending to a career-defining run.
Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers had a great opportunity to take a 3-1 series lead in the NBA Finals and potentially close the series out on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Indiana was in control for most of the game, but they allowed the Thunder to pull off a late-game comeback and steal the victory.
In the loss, Haliburton recorded 18 points on 7-for-15 shooting (including 1-for-7 from the three-point line), seven assists, two rebounds, and two steals. The Wisconsin native also committed five turnovers.
It is no secret that Haliburton is crucial to the Pacers' success. He is a major reason the team made it this far in the first place, and he will be a big reason they win the series, if they do so. However, his inconsistencies in the NBA Finals are doing him and the team more harm than good, and there is a chance they negate the successful narrative he has created throughout the playoffs.
Tyrese Haliburton needs to step it up
The Pacers have proven they can be a successful team even if Haliburton has an off night. However, against a dominant team like the Thunder, especially when the lights are at their brightest, everybody on the Pacers must bring their A-game, especially their star guard.
Throughout the NBA Finals so far, Haliburton is averaging 17.8 points, 7.5 assists, 6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1 block per game. Additionally, he is averaging 4.3 turnovers per game and is shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc. While his counting numbers aren't necessarily bad, he has been hit or miss throughout the series, and it is clear that Oklahoma City has mostly done a good job of making him uncomfortable.
The series is far from over as each team has won two games apiece. However, most of the momentum is now in favor of the Thunder, who re-gained home-court advantage and have now essentially made this series a best of three. It is too early for the Pacers to count themselves out, but it is clear that their backs are up against the wall. With the Larry O'Brien Trophy still within reach, they will have to be better, and it all starts with Haliburton.