He is still far from a lockdown defender, but Tyrese Haliburton's improvements on the defensive side of the ball should not go unnoticed as that played a big role in the Indiana Pacers' recent NBA Finals run. Next season may be rough for the team, but once the Wisconsin native returns and is healthy, the Pacers should always be in the mix.
Recently, Bryce Simon of the Game Theory Podcast praised Haliburton's defensive improvements, which helped the Pacers succeed last season.
"I thought [Tyrese Haliburton]'s defense took a step forward this year. I thought he had more engagement. I thought he used his length better to at least be disruptive. When he would hedge hard and then recover, he may get a deflection or take away the passing window. I appreciated that extra little effort on the defensive end to help his team out and make him an all-around player," Simon said.
It is unfortunate for Indiana that they will not see Haliburton on the court next season as he recovers from an Achilles injury. Even so, the Pacers still have an incredibly bright future, and if last season was any indication, they should be right back in the title picture once Haliburton returns.
The Pacers can still contend for a long time
It is widely expected that the Pacers are going to take a step back next season, and it's not hard to understand why.
Despite being just one win away from an NBA Championship last season, next year's outlook looks grim for Indiana. In addition to Haliburton being out for the entire season, the Pacers also need to work through Myles Turner's shocking departure after he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent.
As it stands, it looks like Indiana will go through their fair share of ups and downs, and it is likely that they will not be as successful as they were last season, even though they are in a wide-open Eastern Conference. However, they still have an opportunity to make some noise.
The Pacers may not be serious title contenders next year, but they still have a very talented team and a habit of always exceeding expectations and shocking the basketball world. Sure, they won't have Haliburton or Turner, and their team objectively looks weaker going into next season, but there is still a lot to like about the team.
Indiana's roster is still filled with young players with a ton of potential, and that only bodes well for the team's future. This is especially true since fans have not seen many of them hit their peak just yet, though they may have that opportunity next season.
Players like Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, and Jarace Walker are all expected to be in line for the biggest roles of their careers so far, and they will have an opportunity to take their game to the next level. It may not be enough to push the Pacers into title contention next season, but it would be huge for the team if they each take that leap.
The Pacers are still a team to keep an eye on for the long term, and they should be able to re-establish themselves as championship contenders once Haliburton returns.