Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images

Rick Carlisle says ‘never seen before’ lineup for Pacers in Game 7 after Haliburton injury blew the NBA Finals

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 10:30 AM ET

Rick Carlisle claims the Indiana Pacers are being forced to change their lineup after Tyrese Haliburton’s injury cost them the NBA championship.

The Indiana Pacers came agonizingly close to winning their first NBA championship last month. After one of the most incredible playoff runs in recent memory led by Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games.

Game 7 did look like it could go the Indiana Pacers’ way, as Tyrese Haliburton was making some big shots. But Haliburton then suffered a tragic Achilles tear, taking him out of the game.

Despite putting up a strong fight, the Pacers would eventually lose, and the Thunder would win the NBA championship.

As well as the Pacers played, they just couldn’t overcome the overwhelming strength of the Thunder.

But Rick Carlisle believes the Pacers lost because they had to make some lineup changes that just weren’t enough to compete with the Thunder.

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Rick Carlisle claims Indiana Pacers lineup change proved to be deathblow in Game 7

Rick Carlisle spoke recently in an interview with Chris Long. When talking about the NBA Finals, Carlisle admitted losing Tyrese Haliburton proved to be too much for them.

After losing Haliburton, the Pacers had to play Andrew Nembhard at point guard, with Aaron Nesmith at shooting guard, and Bennedict Mathurin at small forward. This was a lineup the Pacers never played with, and the inexperience ended up costing them the game.

“There was the gathering around him on the floor, and then we had to get back to the huddle. We had won a couple of games during the year without Tyrese, and the guys had the belief.

“We understood the elements that you have to have to win in that situation, whether you have your best player or you don’t, it’s still a game of execution.

“If you compare it to football, it’s execution, it’s ball security, and it’s special teams, and you give yourself a chance.

“The third quarter was our undoing in that game. The third quarter started, and we had a different starting lineup out there. Really, I don’t know if we used the entire year.

“Mathurin at 2, Nesmith at 3, Nembhard at 1. I’m not sure if we used that lineup once during the regular season. There are some elements that come at you fast.”

Indiana Pacers must test out new lineups after losing Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner

Heading into the 2025-26 NBA season, Rick Carlisle has a lot of things to figure out with the lineup. Haliburton’s Achilles injury means the All-Star guard won’t be available next season.

Furthermore, the Pacers lost Myles Turner in free agency to the Milwaukee Bucks.

With two pivotal starters no longer available, Carlisle must experiment with new Pacers lineups to try and keep the team competitive.

Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard will be available. But the Pacers just don’t have enough to make another championship push next year.

This season could be an opportunity for Carlisle to give his younger stars more minutes and see which of them thrive and which of them flounder.

If the Pacers can zero in on a solid rotation this year, they can bounce back and return to competing at a high level the following season.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: