thelesterlee
The New York Knicks are down 3 starters and a 6th man of the year candidate, yet somehow they are one win away from sending the Indiana Pacers on vacation. Tyrese Haliburton—the best player on the Pacers—seems okay with watching his team lose as he quietly tip-toes around the perimeter, playing hot potato to ensure he doesn’t get stuck with the ball when the shot clock is up.
Here’s what Tyrese did in Indiana’s 91-121 waterboarding from the Knicks:
- 13 points
- 5-for-9 from the field
- 5 assists
- 2 rebounds
- 2 turnovers
- -22 +/-
The Pacers are 5-1 this postseason when Haliburton takes 15 or more shots and they’re 1-4 when he doesn’t. Most professional basketball players, especially guys receiving All-NBA votes, would recognize this and head into the next game ready to play more aggressively. Especially after a big Game 4 victory to tie the series 2-2.
On Mother’s Day, the Pacers blew out the Knicks. Here’s Tyrese talking shit, up 30 against a team of Jalen Brunson, who is playing with one healthy foot, and his college drinking buddies:
“HE CAN’T GUARD ME”
Tyrese Haliburton TOUGH
— GoldBoys.com (@GoldBoysSupport) May 12, 2024
Tyrese sure was loud in Game 4 when the Knicks could not make a shot and sure was quiet in Game 5 when his team needed their best player to like, take shot attempts.
I knew the game was over early as the Pacers jogged back on defense—Tyrese shouted at Aaron Nesmith to switch and cover Deuce McBride, so Tyrese could stand around the 3-point line with Alec Burks.
His talent doesn’t make the game easier for anyone but himself. His teammates have extra work to do, playing with a guy who refuses to shoot—while Tyrese hides in the corner, offensively and defensively, avoiding any and all responsibility.
He’s either terrified of making the mistake that costs his team the game OR my man just LOVES passing the ball.
Tyrese Haliburton plays like he thinks assisted baskets are worth extra bonus points. Haliburton passed up multiple easy layups in Game 5 to ‘get guys involved’. Tyrese is the only All-Star in NBA history who believes Andrew Nembhard should take more shots than him.
Game 5 felt like he was pacing himself, waiting for his viral moment to heroically carry the team on his back when the timing was right. I reckon the time was never right.
Tyrese Haliburton plays like NBA games have 8 quarters and he’s slowly warming up to go CRAZY in the 7th.
Perhaps Tyrese has been miscast as a ‘star’.
It wasn’t his fault this year’s All-Star Weekend was in Indiana. The NBA positioned him as a superstar, when, this whole time, he’s kind of a lame dork with no swag—who’s terrified of failing and essentially is Lonzo Ball with better knees from never bending them on defense.
Tyrese plays like I would if I was pulled from the nose bleeds and was forced to be the starting point guard for the Indiana Pacers in a playoff series against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden. I, too, would love passing the ball and hiding—that girl I DMed on Instagram a few years ago who read it and never responded could be watching, after all.
Tyrese plays like he thinks the team with the most bounce passes wins the game.
Good luck to the Indiana Pacers building around a guy who thinks he’s on the floor to give TJ McConnell some rest. I never want to hear about tall Andre Miller being a star again. Tyrese was built to win Skills competitions, not NBA championships.
Is Tyrese Haliburton a fraud? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee. Let me know if you think Tyrese is simply miscast and should be more like the 3rd or 4th option on an NBA team.
