'It's me vs. me more than anything': Pacers Tyrese Haliburton believes he'll get hot soon
Dustin Dopirak
Indianapolis Star
0:17
1:49
INDIANAPOLIS -- Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton admits he's snapped at friends, loved ones and advisors when talking about the shooting slump that has plagued him for much of the last month, especially when they're tying to cheer him up.
After being the toast of the town for All-Star weekend in Indianapolis and hitting 10 of 14 3-pointers in the All-Star Game, the Pacers point guard has had a hard time getting anything to fall the last 13 games. He's made just 20 of 94 3-pointers since the All-Star break (21.3%), 11 of 65 3s in nine games in March (16.9%) and just three 3-pointers on 24 attempts in the last three games.
The Pacers are 7-6 since the break and Haliburton is averaging 15.8 points and 9.8 assists in those games, but those wins and that production have felt more like a grind lately.
"Everybody's answer to me right now is, 'You need to smile and have fun more,'" Haliburton said after the Pacers' practice on Tuesday. "Me being honest, it's like, I've had these honest conversations, 'What the (expletive) is there to smile about?' Losing is not fun. Playing bad is not fun. You know what I mean? That's been frustrating because that answer doesn't help me."
When he's stepped back from those conversations, however, he's realized that the answer does actually help.
"I think it always comes back to the basics of just enjoying what I'm doing," Haliburton said. "Basketball is fun. This life I live is amazing. ... I do think it makes sense in the sense of, take a step back and reflect on where you are and enjoy where you are. There's beauty in the struggle, you know what I mean? I think something great is going to happen because this is happening to me."
It is a unique struggle in his career, Haliburton said, because it doesn't stem from a defensive counterattack. In December, he had something of a mini-slump in part because he got hit harder by blitzes and double-teams after the In-Season Tournament, and he had to figure out new ways to attack. He broke out in late December, leading the Pacers to a six-game winning streak in which he averaged 23.8 points and 15.7 assists, cracking the 20-assist mark in back-to-back games.
This, obviously, is a different challenge.
"That was more of a schematic issue on my part, just wondering how I could be better in my concepts," Haliburton said. "Now, it's not anything schematic. It's just about making shots. I think I'm getting to my spots just fine. I'm just not making shots. In that situation it was more about me vs. other teams and other players. Now it's me vs. me more than anything."
So while he's fighting that internal battle, Haliburton is first trying to make sure he's doing the rest of his job. That means continue to distribute the ball and keep the offense moving, and he's done that well, though the Pacers are struggling from long range. He's posted double-figure assists in eight of 13 games since the All-Star break. It still means looking for other ways to score, and he has made 58 of 93 2-point shots since the All-Star break (62.3%).
And, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, it means maintaining focus on team goals as the Pacers look to reach the postseason for the first time since 2021 and a playoff series for the first time since 2020. The Pacers began Tuesday in seventh-place in the Eastern Conference at 38-31. With an 11-1/2 game lead on 11th-place Brooklyn (26-42) they are close to guaranteeing themselves a top-10 finish, which would mean at least a play-in spot.
However, they would obviously like to avoid the play-in tournament by finishing in the top six, or at least put themselves in a top-eight spot so that they would only need to win play-in game to make the playoffs. As of Tuesday afternoon, they were just 1/2 game back of sixth-place Philadelphia, but also just 1/2 game up on eighth-place Miami.
The Pacers have 13 games remaining, and they begin a five-game trip on Wednesday in Detroit, then head to California to play the Warriors, Lakers and Clippers before playing the Bulls in Chicago.
"We all have to lose ourselves in the team right now," Carlisle said. "That's the answer. We've got a great group of guys. We have a bunch of terrific players. What everyone wants to see is a team, is a team playing together, working together, problem-solving together. We have to be a high-functioning, collaborative group that understands in the NBA, none of this stuff is easy."
Haliburton understands that, but he also understands that it's much easier for the Pacers to win if their best shooter's shots go in. He's working to make sure that happens, but also maintaining belief that it will. After all, he shot 40% from 3-point range before the All-Star break, he shot 40% or better from 3-point range in each of his first three seasons in the NBA and he made 42.6% of his 3-pointers in college. Despite his funky motion that many coaches and evaluators suggested wouldn't translate to the NBA, he's been consistent from beyond the arc until this point.
"I'm a 40% 3-point shooter my whole life," Haliburton said. "I'm gonna get hot soon. ... I'm confident in who I am. I think it's just, at the end of the day, trusting my work. I've never doubted myself. I wouldn't be here if I did. So why would I start now? I don't plan on it. It will take care of itself."
https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...p/73030971007/
This type of slump happens to all of us, and to all professional players in all sports. It will pass.
Dustin Dopirak
Indianapolis Star
0:17
1:49
INDIANAPOLIS -- Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton admits he's snapped at friends, loved ones and advisors when talking about the shooting slump that has plagued him for much of the last month, especially when they're tying to cheer him up.
After being the toast of the town for All-Star weekend in Indianapolis and hitting 10 of 14 3-pointers in the All-Star Game, the Pacers point guard has had a hard time getting anything to fall the last 13 games. He's made just 20 of 94 3-pointers since the All-Star break (21.3%), 11 of 65 3s in nine games in March (16.9%) and just three 3-pointers on 24 attempts in the last three games.
The Pacers are 7-6 since the break and Haliburton is averaging 15.8 points and 9.8 assists in those games, but those wins and that production have felt more like a grind lately.
"Everybody's answer to me right now is, 'You need to smile and have fun more,'" Haliburton said after the Pacers' practice on Tuesday. "Me being honest, it's like, I've had these honest conversations, 'What the (expletive) is there to smile about?' Losing is not fun. Playing bad is not fun. You know what I mean? That's been frustrating because that answer doesn't help me."
When he's stepped back from those conversations, however, he's realized that the answer does actually help.
"I think it always comes back to the basics of just enjoying what I'm doing," Haliburton said. "Basketball is fun. This life I live is amazing. ... I do think it makes sense in the sense of, take a step back and reflect on where you are and enjoy where you are. There's beauty in the struggle, you know what I mean? I think something great is going to happen because this is happening to me."
It is a unique struggle in his career, Haliburton said, because it doesn't stem from a defensive counterattack. In December, he had something of a mini-slump in part because he got hit harder by blitzes and double-teams after the In-Season Tournament, and he had to figure out new ways to attack. He broke out in late December, leading the Pacers to a six-game winning streak in which he averaged 23.8 points and 15.7 assists, cracking the 20-assist mark in back-to-back games.
This, obviously, is a different challenge.
"That was more of a schematic issue on my part, just wondering how I could be better in my concepts," Haliburton said. "Now, it's not anything schematic. It's just about making shots. I think I'm getting to my spots just fine. I'm just not making shots. In that situation it was more about me vs. other teams and other players. Now it's me vs. me more than anything."
So while he's fighting that internal battle, Haliburton is first trying to make sure he's doing the rest of his job. That means continue to distribute the ball and keep the offense moving, and he's done that well, though the Pacers are struggling from long range. He's posted double-figure assists in eight of 13 games since the All-Star break. It still means looking for other ways to score, and he has made 58 of 93 2-point shots since the All-Star break (62.3%).
And, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, it means maintaining focus on team goals as the Pacers look to reach the postseason for the first time since 2021 and a playoff series for the first time since 2020. The Pacers began Tuesday in seventh-place in the Eastern Conference at 38-31. With an 11-1/2 game lead on 11th-place Brooklyn (26-42) they are close to guaranteeing themselves a top-10 finish, which would mean at least a play-in spot.
However, they would obviously like to avoid the play-in tournament by finishing in the top six, or at least put themselves in a top-eight spot so that they would only need to win play-in game to make the playoffs. As of Tuesday afternoon, they were just 1/2 game back of sixth-place Philadelphia, but also just 1/2 game up on eighth-place Miami.
The Pacers have 13 games remaining, and they begin a five-game trip on Wednesday in Detroit, then head to California to play the Warriors, Lakers and Clippers before playing the Bulls in Chicago.
"We all have to lose ourselves in the team right now," Carlisle said. "That's the answer. We've got a great group of guys. We have a bunch of terrific players. What everyone wants to see is a team, is a team playing together, working together, problem-solving together. We have to be a high-functioning, collaborative group that understands in the NBA, none of this stuff is easy."
Haliburton understands that, but he also understands that it's much easier for the Pacers to win if their best shooter's shots go in. He's working to make sure that happens, but also maintaining belief that it will. After all, he shot 40% from 3-point range before the All-Star break, he shot 40% or better from 3-point range in each of his first three seasons in the NBA and he made 42.6% of his 3-pointers in college. Despite his funky motion that many coaches and evaluators suggested wouldn't translate to the NBA, he's been consistent from beyond the arc until this point.
"I'm a 40% 3-point shooter my whole life," Haliburton said. "I'm gonna get hot soon. ... I'm confident in who I am. I think it's just, at the end of the day, trusting my work. I've never doubted myself. I wouldn't be here if I did. So why would I start now? I don't plan on it. It will take care of itself."
https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...p/73030971007/
This type of slump happens to all of us, and to all professional players in all sports. It will pass.