Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers spills the tea on Tyrese Maxey’s shocking statement regarding his play.
Since recovering from a hamstring injury in late January, Haliburton hasn’t quite lived up to the extraordinarily high expectations he set over the first several months of 2023–2024. It’s hoped that he won’t take long to get healthy again and challenge players like Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic for the title of best offensive player in basketball. He raced back onto the court to reach the 65-game mark required to be eligible for All-NBA honors and the ensuing super-max contract extension.
Until then, the 24-year-old will still be very useful, particularly if he can more effectively split his passing and scoring duties from the first tip to the last buzzer. In the latest installment of Wave Sports+Entertainment’s Podcast P With Paul George, Haliburton recounted how Tyrese Maxey, his Philadelphia 76ers adversary, warned him last season about his inconsistent aggression in trying to create his own offense in half-court.
Regarding setting up teammates and getting his own shots, Haliburton said to George, “During the flow of the game, right, I don’t necessarily think about that.” “I’m only wondering how I can make the best basketball play possible at this moment. For me, it has been like this the entire year. Five down at the half with a 2-for-6 score and 10 assists. After that, they approach me, show me the stat sheet, and ask, “Six shots?” This is insufficient. I shoot like crazy in the third quarter until it looks like everything balances out.
You know, I feel like I need to be more assertive. I’m not positive, but it seems like based on my stats, the third and fourth would be where I earn the most points,” he went on. Tyrese Maxey told me that last season, so I’ve been attempting to figure out how to change my mindset. I think I had about five points and ten assists at the half. As I wipe off my shoes after halftime, Tyrese walks over and guards me full-court, saying, “Okay, it’s time to play defense now.” I mean, you’re going to really win. And I think to myself, “Do people really think that about me?”
“I was unaware that I had done it. Maxey was the one who initially brought it to Haliburton’s attention, the actor remarked. It’s just the way the game works; it’s not intentional. Every game, in my opinion, is a struggle of those balances. I frequently discuss it with Sue Bird because she was also forced to do it. Few people have been forced to perform both tasks and have developed high-level proficiency in both areas. I’m just attempting to determine which path is best between the two.
Maxey was correct, as Haliburton indicates, regarding his propensity to assist teammates before accepting his position as Indiana’s leading scorer. According to NBA.com/stats, he’s taking 7.3 shots and dishing out six assists in the first half of the season, compared to 8.3 shots and 5.3 assists in the second. It is also not surprising that Haliburton is attempting more free throws and three-pointers after the break, as his usage percentage increases from 23.4% to 25.3% following the break.
Proficient lead players such as Haliburton have long been used to waiting for opportunities to present themselves. The premier player for the Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry, has received criticism on occasion in the past few years for waiting until the second half to take matters into his own hands as a scorer. Sometimes all you need to know about LeBron James, especially as he enters his late 30s, is what’s in his eyes. He adopts a more subdued attacking style early in his career before bursting into action later.
Not only is Haliburton skilled and astute enough to adjust the game within the game when needed, but the Pacers can also score more points when he plays more aggressively.
With Haliburton on the court this season, Indiana’s first-half offensive rating is 120.0, more than three points per 100 possessions worse than their flashy second-half offensive rating. Haliburton’s 63.4 true shooting % and explosive 6.3 assist-to-turnover ratio after halftime comfortably surpass his figures from the first two quarters, demonstrating his increased efficiency as a scorer and facilitator.
Throughout the season, the Pacers have benefited from a more assertive Haliburton. Despite his exceptional passing ability, it is possible that Haliburton’s deeper exploration of his scoring prowess—using his shot to produce effective offense for himself and then his teammates rather than the other way around for an entire 48 minutes—will be necessary for Indiana to move toward real competition.
That change will, of course, only be most advantageous to Rick Carlisle’s club when Haliburton is nearly fully recovered. As the Pacers attempt to elevate themselves to the status of elite Eastern Conference contenders moving into 2024–25, let’s hope they achieve that status before the regular season ends.