After a recent chatter following a controversial NBA ballot amongst the players, Tyrese Haliburton wanted to shake out a shadow that has been cast over him.
“Overrated.”
Some people say, Haliburton is too unselfish, too pass-first, not a “killer”, and not a “real” No. 1 option.
But on a loud night in Cleveland, with the result all but raining down and the Indiana Pacers securing a second straight trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, Haliburton didn’t have to say a word. The scoreboard, the series tally, and the stunned expressions on the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers’ team and crowd spoke loudly enough.
The Pacers have won in 5 games against a team that was supposed to outclass them. This wasn’t just an upset — it was a dismantling. And it was proof that Haliburton’s style, and this Pacers team, are not just good enough. They’re built the right way, and they’re built to last.
A system that works, a star that believes
Haliburton didn’t need 40-point nights to make his impact felt. He orchestrated, he read the floor two steps ahead, and he elevated everyone around him. In the closeout Game 5 win, his stat line — 31 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 6 threes — was a masterclass in control. What he did was subtle, surgical, and suffocating for Cleveland.
Indiana picked apart the Cavaliers with relentless pace, smart spacing, and constant movement. Kenny Atkinson’s squad, known for its defensive tenacity during the regular season, looked overwhelmed trying to keep up. Evan Mobley was stretched thin. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell were hunted. The Cavaliers had no answers for the tempo.
And it wasn’t just Haliburton. Andrew Nembhard’s two-way brilliance, Myles Turner’s timely rim protection, Pascal Siakam’s veteran calm, and Obi Toppin’s injection of energy all contributed to a five-game win that felt like a statement. Indiana is not just fun anymore. They are contending.
The blueprint of a contender
This isn’t a superteam. This is a team that became great through vision, patience, and precision, led by brilliant veteran head coach Rick Carlisle.
The foundation was built through the draft: Turner, the lone holdover from the Paul George era, grew into a versatile anchor. Nembhard, Sheppard, Mathurin — all young players with composure beyond their years.
They traded smartly: getting Haliburton in exchange for Domantas Sabonis felt controversial at first, but it’s now one of the most lopsided deals in recent memory. Adding Siakam at the deadline was a masterstroke — he brought championship pedigree without disrupting the flow. He didn't just buy into the system; he elevated it.
And their free agent signings were understated but vital. TJ McConnell remains the heartbeat off the bench. Aaron Nesmith has become a true 3-and-D weapon. Thomas Bryant and Obi Toppin give this team depth and versatility.
There’s no ego here, there is just cohesion and belief.
“We know what we have,” head coach Rick Carlisle said after Game 5. “We’ve got guys who care more about the next pass than the last shot. That’s special.”
Tyrese Haliburton’s rise wasn’t fueled by noise. It’s been built quietly, piece by piece, through reading defenses and manipulating tempo, through making stars out of role players and rhythm out of chaos.
He’s not a flamethrower like Steph. He’s not a bulldozer like Giannis. He’s something rarer: a point guard who makes everyone better without needing to dominate. And for some, that doesn’t fit the mold of a superstar.
But to call him overrated? That’s lazy.
The Pacers are an elite team this season when Haliburton hits double digits in assists. He led the NBA in transition assists. He’s made Nembhard and Mathurin look like seasoned playoff guards. He’s allowed Siakam – a two-time All-NBA forward – to shine even more.
In Game 4, when Cleveland tried blitzing him high to take the ball out of his hands, Haliburton calmly hit roller after roller. In Game 5, when they sat back in drop, he punished them with floaters and kick-outs. Every adjustment they made, he countered not with bravado but with brilliance.
The overrated label was never about him. It was about people misunderstanding the kind of greatness he brings.
The road back to the Eastern Conference Finals
A year ago, Indiana reached the Eastern Conference Finals and ran headfirst into a Boston Celtics juggernaut. They seemed like they weren’t ready after faltering multiple times in the clutch in the series. The moment felt too big, and the lights were too bright.
But this year, it’s different.
They’re deeper, smarter, and hungrier. And perhaps most importantly, they know exactly who they are.
Back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances might not come with parades, but in a small market like Indianapolis, it’s validation. This is a franchise that didn’t bottom out or chase shortcuts. They stayed the course, invested in character and chemistry, and trusted a 6-foot-5 guard with a quirky jump shot and a genius-level basketball brain to be their face of the future.
And Haliburton has delivered splendidly, and he continues to strive for more.
In an era where teams try to fast-track success with star pairings and flash, the Indiana Pacers remain the outliers. They’ve built a contender by doing the little things right, over the years, not months.
This win over Cleveland – a team with one of the league’s best records, a suffocating defense, and a very good team with three all-stars – isn’t just an upset. It’s a coronation of the Pacers’ philosophy, and it's a resounding reminder that basketball is still a team sport.
Tyrese Haliburton may never be the kind of player who drops 50 on any given night or leads the league in scoring. But he’ll control the game, he’ll lift his teammates, and he will try to win.
That’s his style, and that will be his greatness. Overrated? Maybe to those who only see box scores. But to those watching closely – the coaches, the peers, the Pacers’ faithful – Haliburton is redefining what it means to be a superstar.
And as Indiana marches back to the Eastern Conference Finals, it’s clear: You can doubt Tyrese Haliburton if you want. Just don’t bet against him.
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