Indiana Pacers fans have been clamoring for Tyrese Haliburton to be a more aggressive scorer for a long time, and it seems like they aren't alone.
In the fifth episode of Netflix' Starting 5 Season 2, renowned basketball trainer Drew Hanlen told the Iowa State alum to be more aggressive on the court. More specifically, he told Haliburton to be more aggressive going downhill and shooting in the paint with the ball in his hands.
"To me, a lot of the times when you get to [halfcourt], you just end up passing the ball laterally. And, it's like, you putting the pressure on the three-point line and stopping because you know if you slam your brakes right there and they go, that's your shot or shot-fake and shot. But then [hesitate] and then getting downhill. I mean, there you get layups. ... To me, it's like, 'Okay, how do we get in the paint?' Every single time you get downhill, good things happen," Hanlen said to Haliburton.
The Pacers are at their best with an aggressive Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton is so great for Indiana because of his elite point guard abilities. He has amazing court vision and can facilitate and pass at such a high level. Furthermore, he is an incredibly efficient playmaker (averages 10.1 assists to 2.3 turnovers with the Pacers), which makes him the perfect fit in their system.
However, as the Pacers' best offensive player, he is also needed to generate points directly, which should not be too difficult for him to do.
The Wisconsin native is a fantastic scorer who can put the ball in the basket anywhere on the court. He can score in the paint and anywhere from the perimeter, and he can also create his own shot or score off a set-up from somebody else. However, he has been far too passive throughout his NBA career, which remains one of his biggest flaws as a player.
It's not always easy for players to find the perfect balance between passiveness and aggressiveness. Even so, it's still no secret that the Pacers play incredibly well when Haliburton is more aggressive than usual.
According to StatMuse, Indiana was 14-2 last season when Haliburton attempted 17 or more field goals in a game. Additionally, the team was 9-10 when he shot 11 or fewer field goals.
This is not a coincidence, and this is something many have noticed for a long time.
Haliburton is one of the best offensive players in the NBA today due to his playmaking and scoring prowess. He is a big reason Indiana has been so successful in recent years, and he will still be a big reason it will re-enter the title picture once he returns from his Achilles injury.
The 25-year-old has established himself as an incredible player in the league. However, it's clear that he still has some room for improvement before taking that next step. With him on the shelf for this season, fans will have to wait a little while longer to see where he takes his game from here. But as it stands, it seems that Haliburton knows exactly what he needs to do to improve, and that could pay dividends for the long haul.