Indiana Pacers

Will a team that passed on Tyrese Haliburton in the 2020 draft regret it now?

Although the opponent is the Milwaukee Bucks, who are the 2021 NBA champions and have purchased Damian Lillard in a big way before the season, the Pacers, who are currently the most terrifying offense this season – or the Pacers’ most reliable ace point guard, Haliburton, has not yet They planned to stop at the mid-season championship. In the previous game against the Eastern Conference leader Celtics, they relied on Haliburton’s outstanding performance, including an important “four-point hit” at the critical moment to defeat the Celtics. Today (December, Taiwan time) On the 8th), facing the second-place Bucks in the Eastern Conference in the mid-season tournament semi-finals, Haliburton still delivered a high-quality performance, with 27 points, 7 rebounds, 15 assists, and no mistakes, including the critical moment in the fourth quarter. He scored 5 points in a row to seal the victory, defeating the Bucks 128:119 in the final game, becoming the Eastern Conference Champion of the Mid-Season Championship and advancing to the Mid-Season Championship.

The Pacers averaged 128.4 points, Off RTG 123.3, and Pace Factor 104.1 this season. All three offensive-related statistics ranked first in the league. Fast-paced and ferocious offense is their biggest guarantee this season. In the mid-season championship, the Pacers averaged more points per game. It can reach 132.6 points. The first quarter of this game was a small test for both teams. Pacers center Myles Turner and Bucks ace Giannis Antetokounmpo each scored 10 points to lead the offensive. However, in the second quarter, the Pacers’ substitute lineup came on and continued the offensive firepower. , and even more efficient. Bennedict Mathurin, TJ McConnell, and Isaiah Jackson jointly scored 15 points, and then took the Pacers’ smooth offensive back to the hands of the starters. The Pacers gradually opened up the lead in the second quarter, and it was already at halftime. Leading by 12 points at 63:51.

The Bucks opened the third quarter with Lillard’s three-pointer from outside, turning the game into a star-dominated battle. The Bucks’ two stars, Lillard and Antetokounmpo, were on full fire. Lillard made all four three-pointers in a single quarter and scored 16 points, and Antetokounmpo also scored 16 points. 11 points, helping the Bucks score 43 points in a single quarter, and get a 3-point lead before entering the fourth quarter. However, the Pacers substitute team who performed well in the first half continued to show off in the fourth quarter, before the starter returned to the court. It helped the Pacers take the lead again, and the two sides entered a tug-of-war. At 1 minute and 54 seconds before the end, Antetokounmpo forced a cut and succeeded. The Bucks were only 3 points away, but then Haliburton first scored a layup with a one-two cut, and then scored with 48 from the bottom. Seconds after hitting a step-back three-pointer, the Pacers opened up an 8-point lead. Even if the Bucks used foul tactics to freeze time, they could no longer pursue the point offensive. In the end, the Pacers won by 9 points.

Haliburton did not perform explosively in any single quarter, but cumulatively throughout the game, he still completed the third super-quality performance of “25 points, 15 assists and zero errors” this season. Haliburton is not the first player in NBA history who can A player who has reached 25 points, 15 assists and no turnovers, but the other 14 players have only done it once each. Haliburton has done it three times this season, which is already an epic performance. Since the beginning of the season, Haliburton has averaged 26.9 points and is the league champion. 12.1 assists, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 5.4. In the mid-season tournament, Halibburton’s data increased to 27.8 points and 13.6 assists. He is undoubtedly the most dazzling star in the mid-season tournament. After hitting the key three-pointer in the fourth quarter, Haliburton even looked at his wrist and responded to Bucks coach Lillard’s famous “Lillard Time” gesture in the past, which was full of momentum.

In addition to Haliburton, the Pacers also had Turner who scored 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 rebounds. Obi Toppin added 14 points and 6 rebounds. Although shooter Buddy Hield was inaccurate from outside, he grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds. All 10 players took turns to score, and the substitutes outscored the Bucks 43:13, allowing them to still have an advantage when the starters retired, which was the main reason for the victory in this game. Haliburton said after the game: “Maybe not so many people have paid attention to our game, but we really have the best bench group in the league. We have many different teammates who can step forward. We really do it because of this depth of the lineup. To get here.” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle also praised the bench players, saying: “Our bench players are the biggest key to this game. Looking at the plus and minus values ​​of those games, you will know that they held up the entire game. A game.”

None of the Pacers’ starting players have positive plus/minus values, but the substitutes are all positive. Jackson, Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith are all above +14, which shows that Carlisle’s theory is true.

The Bucks finally stopped in the second round of the knockout rounds. Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 37 points and 10 rebounds. Lillard had 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. Khris Middleton, who has been underperforming this season, scored a season-high 37 points and 10 rebounds. 20 points, Brook Lopez also had 18 points and 4 hot shots, but except for these four, the other six players only had 20 points and failed to provide support, which also stopped the Bucks’ mid-season championship trip. 100,000 bonus for third and fourth place.

The Pacers’ opponent in the Mid-Season Championship will be the Lakers. The Lakers led in the second quarter of another Mid-Season Championship semi-finals and defeated the Pelicans with a 43:17 offensive in the third quarter. The final score was 133:89, 44 points. Easily defeat the Pelicans and grab another championship ticket.

Further reading:

Silently affecting the league ecology, mid-season tournament marginal effects

What is the NBA Mid-Season Championship?Full analysis of grouping, competition system and rewards

[Spring Master Talks about Football]After Haliburton’s another brilliant performance, how will the Pacers move forward?

“True Ace” Tyrese Haliburton is here?The Pacers are at the starting point of the future

“Fengling Essay” embraces a new culture: Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton will welcome his first All-Star

Three years into stardom, Tyrese Haliburton’s miraculous growth spurt

“2023-24 Key Role” Indiana Pacers — Bennedict Mathurin

[Editor Zhang Zhengbang]