2023-12-16 01:19:01
Tyrese Haliburton。（NBA Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images） (Stacy Revere via Getty Images)
Before the 2023-24 NBA season, when people mentioned Tyrese Haliburton, the point guard of the Indiana Pacers, they would generally give comments like “a star player on a weak team”, which would not be compared with awards such as annual MVP. associate together. However, according to the latest rankings on the NBA official website, he not only ranks 6th in the MVP prediction list, but is also the youngest and youngest player among the top 10. The explosive growth on the offensive end has finally given the Pacers hope of rebuilding successfully. How did Haliburton, a new-generation backcourt star whose physical fitness is not top-notch and whose shooting posture has been questioned, find his own unique path?
Pulling back the time to February 8, 2022, a blockbuster trade quickly occupied all sports pages. The Pacers sent Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, plus a second-round pick to the Sacramento Kings for Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Tristan Thompson, in hindsight this is a win-win deal. The Kings already have the ball-carrying core De’Aaron Fox but lack a strong inside player. The Pacers’ main point guard Malcolm Brogdon is known for his stability, but his ceiling is limited and his record is very good. The two struggling teams decided to exchange stars in an attempt to change their physiques. To be fair, each gets what they need. At the same time, Haliburton will also gain more ball rights and have a broad stage to perform.
Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images (Lachlan Cunningham via Getty Images)
The truth is that when Haliburton learned that he was being sent away, he was completely distraught, even angry and unwilling. After all, he had just announced a few weeks before the trade that he would lead the Kings to end the long playoff run. Ridiculous words.
His career had just entered his second season and he was only 21 years old. He was regarded as the backbone of the team but was traded so easily. It was unacceptable to anyone. The person involved later described his feelings at the time like this: “It was really hurt. They didn’t want to I have full trust and hope in this place, but to be driven away like this is a very difficult result to accept.”
After clearing up his mood, Haliburton immediately let his new owner know that he had really found a treasure this time. He averaged 14.3 points, 7.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and a total shooting percentage of 4.57 with the Kings that season. He immediately moved to Indiana. It improved to 17.5 points, 9.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and the shooting percentage exceeded 50%! The rebuilding Pacers confirmed that they will build a more competitive lineup around this young star. Although the departing Sabonis has very impressive statistics, he is more like a top deputy, while Haliburton is the core of a more groundbreaking future. The main attacker and the soul of transmission.
Although he was troubled by some injuries last season, Haliburton still showed his versatility to the fullest. He directly entered the club with a single-season average of 20 points and 10 assists, and became a first-line star in the league. The team won 10 more games, proving that he is not just a player. A player who collects statistics can truly activate both the offensive and defensive ends of the team. Center Myles Turner is probably the teammate who feels the deepest impression. He used to be jokingly said that his potential will always only exist in legends. His physical fitness is top-notch, but his performance other than blocking has always been poor. When Haliburton was transferred in the first half of the season, He was recuperating from injuries, so he had not played together on the same court. However, the following season, with the former’s various pick-and-rolls and timely and efficient passing assists in the outside space, the average score increased by nearly 5 points to 18.0 points, and the total field goal percentage Set a career high, with a true shooting percentage of 65% that even ranks 17th in the league. From the sharp increase in dunks, it is easy to see that Haliburton has allowed Turner, who used to always play farther and farther outside and even squatted at the three-point line waiting for the ball, to have more easy attacks. Basket opportunity.
Haliburton’s assist rate of 47.6% that season topped the entire NBA, which was also a significant improvement compared to his previous seasons. His turnover rate was a new low since his rookie year, and his three-point field goal percentage had never been lower than 40% in a single season (those Football critics and media reporters who once questioned his weird shooting posture and his tendency to be blocked later shut up). From various standards, he is a star player in the backcourt with no obvious shortcomings. Unexpectedly, he was given a five-year, US$260 million maximum salary contract to retain people.
What is unexpected is that Haliburton, who is already close to perfection, can actually evolve further. This is a plot that only happens in Japanese hot-blooded boy fighting comics. At the beginning of this season, he showed extremely efficient offensive output. Under the deliberate efforts of head coach Rick Carlisle, After speeding up and increasing the offensive rhythm, personal destructive power is completely released to the extreme. In particular, the sharpness of the mid-range jump shot has become almost unstoppable, and the three-point long-range shot is equally deadly. The signature thread-and-thread passing skills not only maintain the top level, but also make mistakes. The rate has dropped to an astonishing level. The most intuitive data can illustrate how good this guy is: in 20 games, he averaged 26.1 points, 12.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and a total field goal percentage. As high as 520%, and the three-point shooting percentage is 439%. If he works harder on free throws, he may even have a chance to enter the “180 Club”. His true shooting percentage of 66% ranks 9th in the league, and he is the only one among the top 10. The point guard also ranks 9th in assist-to-turnover ratio. He is the perfect backcourt controller in every coach’s dream.
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Tyrese Haliburton would NOT be denied reaching the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament Championship!
???? 27 PTS
???? 15 AST
???? 0 TOHis 3rd game this season with 25+ PTS, 15+ AST and 0 TO. No other player has more than 1 such game in their CAREER since turnovers were first tracked… pic.twitter.com/vWndJ8WIbb
— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Under the leadership of Haliburton, the Pacers have become the most gorgeous offensive team in the league. Once he comes off the court, the team’s offensive efficiency will drop significantly from 127.0 to 118.0. It’s no wonder that Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra lamented after the game: “Haliburton is alone. He figured out all the Pacers’ offense.”
This level of quality growth actually comes from the stimulation of the United States team’s defeat in the World Cup this summer. Haliburton mentioned in a recent interview: “I have wanted to win honors for the national team for a long time, but unfortunately things have gone against my wishes. Looking at myself in the mirror, I muttered to myself, “It’s time to make some changes.” He has always hated heavy training and has reported to the gym almost every day since then. It is obvious that he has made great progress in physical confrontation this season. More attempts towards the basket are successful. He has obviously succeeded in blocking Haliburton one-on-one. It’s an impossible task.
Coach Carlisle comprehensively evaluated the late bloomer’s development trajectory, personality traits, ball attributes and other aspects, and made the best evaluation for this young soldier: “In my eyes, he is simply another Steve Nash.” He can compete with the 2-time MVP , 5-time league assist king, and Hall of Fame star, I believe it is the best affirmation, and we may be witnessing the birth of a new super giant.
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