Tyrese Haliburton is working through the worst slump of his career. The two-time All-Star has struggled to replicate the performance level he displayed last season as the Indiana Pacers made the Eastern Conference Finals.
On Thursday, the Pacers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 120-114. Haliburton’s struggles were evident, as he scored four points on six shots. However, he did dish out eight assists, a reminder that his playmaking is the only area that hasn’t regressed this season.
Speaking to the media after the game, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle noted that Haliburton was guarded by Lu Dort, one of the best defenders in the NBA.
“Ty only ended up with four points and six shots, but they committed Lu Dort to him,” Carlisle said. “And Lu Dort is as good as a defender as there is in this league.”
There’s no denying that Dort is an elite defender. However, Haliburton is one of the best guards in the NBA. A player of his level shouldn’t be getting shackled so consistently, regardless of who is guarding him. Instead, Haliburton must find ways to create separation and get his shot off. The Pacers need him to be a scoring threat on every possession.
Every player has tough spells. Haliburton is working through the additional defensive attention he draws nightly. Eventually, he needs to figure out how to leave his imprint on games. Only then can the Pacers take the necessary steps forward and prove they can contend in the Eastern Conference.
Haliburton is too good to struggle for much longer. Nevertheless, his current regression is part of the growing pains for a player ascending to stardom. Unfortunately for the Pacers, that means their chances of making a push this season will suffer. Without All-Star Haliburton, Carlisle’s team wouldn’t have enough firepower to compete at the top of the East.