Sport 1 hero Tyrese Haliburton struggled in Sport 2 of the NBA Finals, scoring solely 5 factors within the first three quarters earlier than ending with 17. Because the collection shifts again to Indianapolis, listed below are 3 ways the Indiana Pacers may help get their All-Star again on observe.
1. Defend Haliburton on protection
One of many Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s methods for slowing down Haliburton’s offense is to put on him out on protection. The Thunder frequently ran Haliburton by way of a number of screens on the defensive finish, forcing him to get round 7-footers Isaiah Hartenstein or Chet Holmgren after which one other Thunder wing to chase his opponent.
Hartenstein is listed at 250 kilos. Haliburton is listed at 185. After some time, these screens are going to take a toll. As a substitute, the Pacers ought to combine of their zone protection, one they used for less than a handful of possessions in Sport 2. They need to additionally strive pre-switching Haliburton early on Thunder defensive possessions, to save lots of his vitality for the offensive finish of the ground.
2. Be extra affected person
The Thunder like to pack the paint on protection, generally collapsing the protection so all 5 defenders have a minimum of one foot touching the coloured space. In Sport 2, Indiana scored solely 0.22 factors per play when Haliburton drove into the Thunder’s dense inside protection.
So Indiana must create extra driving lanes for Haliburton, who’s extraordinarily efficient as a passer when he is on the transfer. That would imply beginning him off-ball and operating him by way of screens so he can catch the ball on the transfer. It might imply sending extra gamers to chop by way of the lane to open up alternatives.
However what the Pacers cannot do is accept mediocre photographs, like contested three-pointers or lengthy two-pointers. A consequence of the Thunder’s paint-centric strategy is that they usually assist off three-point shooters within the nook. Indiana was 7-of-16 on nook threes in Sport 2, and 7-of-28 on all others.
