In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton struggled, particularly in the first three quarters, where he scored only five points on 2-for-7 shooting, provided four assists, and committed three turnovers. Following the 123-107 defeat, he acknowledged the Oklahoma City Thunder`s suffocating defense and told reporters he needs to “figure out how to be better earlier in games.”
Looking ahead to Game 3 on Wednesday, Haliburton will certainly aim to build on the momentum from his 12-point fourth quarter. He indicated that this specific matchup might require him to operate “off the ball” more frequently, shifting away from his typical reliance on high ball screens. An example of him finding a floater using this approach is shown here:
It`s straightforward to suggest that Indiana needs Haliburton to improve or be more aggressive. He is the catalyst for what is usually a potent offense, and the Pacers began the series with excessive turnovers and then scored just 41 points in the entire first half of Game 2.
However, they did score plenty of points in the second half. The most significant difference between Game 1 and Game 2 was the vast improvement in Oklahoma City`s offense. If the Pacers cannot find a way to contain the Thunder`s scoring, Haliburton`s personal point total becomes a secondary concern.
Oklahoma City`s Offensive Surge
Offensively, Oklahoma City players felt they needed to return to their preferred style of play, as big man Isaiah Hartenstein expressed before Game 2. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is exceptional at hitting tough shots in isolation, the Thunder are at their best with a balanced attack. In Game 2, Gilgeous-Alexander scored four fewer points than in the opener but was significantly more efficient and effective at creating opportunities for teammates. Chet Holmgren contributed with a scoring burst late in the first quarter, and Jalen Williams got going in the second. Bench players Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins combined for 38 points on efficient shooting (12-for-22). Even without generating much in transition, OKC had little difficulty scoring, even when Gilgeous-Alexander was off the court.
“We just had a better flow to us tonight offensively,” Gilgeous-Alexander commented.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault noted they were marginally better in several areas: game tempo, organization, and decision-making in the paint. They had adjusted to Indiana`s ball pressure and unconventional “next” pick-and-roll coverage and were better prepared to execute their game plan than in Game 1. Daigneault stated, “We all calibrated to our opponent,” specifically praising Gilgeous-Alexander for finding a “great rhythm” in managing the game.
This wasn`t merely a sudden realization from Gilgeous-Alexander about the importance of passing. The entire Oklahoma City team made a deliberate effort to incorporate more movement into their offense. For instance, Holmgren gets an open look for a 3 here, partly due to Caruso`s perfectly timed corner cut:
In another instance, Gilgeous-Alexander appears trapped, but with the defense focused on him, Hartenstein cuts across the lane, and Caruso relocates to the perimeter for an open catch-and-shoot 3:
Beyond pick-and-roll situations, Gilgeous-Alexander also posed problems for Indiana from the mid-post area. If defended one-on-one, he comfortably rose for a jumper; if double-teamed, he made the correct read, leading to a good shot opportunity for the Thunder:
OKC also adjusted their lineup, removing rookie Ajay Mitchell, avoiding lineups without a center, and increasing minutes for Hartenstein and Holmgren, sometimes playing them together, particularly when Indiana had Thomas Bryant and Obi Toppin on the floor. They frequently initiated pick-and-rolls further out on the court, giving Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams more space to operate.
The Thunder are arguably one of the best defensive teams ever. When their offense also performs at a high level, they become nearly unbeatable. According to Cleaning The Glass, they posted 119.8 points per 100 possessions in the halfcourt in Game 2, which was their second-best mark of the entire playoffs.
How the Pacers Can Respond
Indiana`s defense wasn`t entirely poor in Game 2. On several of Wiggins` successful shots, for instance, the defense simply had to acknowledge good offense and move on:
Nevertheless, there is definite room for defensive improvement. If they continue struggling to navigate those very high ball screens, they should consider going *under* them rather than trying to fight over the top. Mixing in more zone defense could also be effective; they used it briefly in the third quarter, immediately forcing a turnover, but abandoned it after committing a foul on the next play. Fouls were a problem throughout the game; later in that quarter, Bennedict Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith both fouled ballhandlers outside the 3-point line, putting Indiana into the penalty early.
For Game 3, the Pacers could potentially eliminate the minutes where Bryant and Toppin play together entirely. They could also vary their pick-and-roll defensive schemes or simply execute their current ones more effectively. And yes, while they do need better offensive output, and *some* of that falls on Haliburton…
It`s not that Haliburton played flawlessly in Game 2; it was only the fifth time all season he recorded five turnovers. However, everything began to unravel for the Pacers as soon as he was substituted out. Furthermore, his relative struggles weren`t as significant an issue as, for example, Indiana`s big men failing to capitalize when Oklahoma City packed the paint. Myles Turner, Pascal Siakam, Toppin, and Bryant combined to shoot a poor 3-for-15 from three-point range on mostly open attempts.
The Thunder`s defense effectively eliminates driving lanes. However, if players can remain composed against their physical pressure, opportunities for three-pointers or attacking closeouts on the weak side can arise. Generally speaking, when the author was frustrated with the Pacers` decision-making in Game 2, it wasn`t because of Haliburton. Examples of questionable plays in the disastrous second quarter include Nesmith turning down an open 3-pointer to attack Lu Dort one-on-one, Siakam forcing a play against Caruso, and Turner throwing away an entry pass.
Unlike opponents in previous series, there aren`t obvious defensive weaknesses to target against OKC. Haliburton acknowledged that Indiana needs to attack the basket more frequently and avoid playing late in the shot clock, despite the feeling of being constantly surrounded by defenders in the paint. The Pacers` offense against OKC may not look as smooth as it typically does, but if they can replicate their second-half scoring from Game 2 and secure more defensive stops, they can create opportunities for themselves. This is the Finals, after all. Nobody said it would be easy.
Jasper Hawthorne