Tyrese Haliburton has remodeled private adversity into historic clutch efficiency, taking pictures 12-for-14 (86%) on game-tying or go-ahead photographs in last two minutes this season. The proportion represents one of the best single-season mark since monitoring started in 1996-97, based on ESPN Analysis.
Haliburton’s exceptional clutch taking pictures follows a troublesome interval that started with restricted enjoying time for Group USA throughout the Olympics. He logged simply 26 minutes throughout the event, the fewest on the roster, and didn’t seem within the semifinal or last video games.
The Olympic expertise served as what Haliburton known as an “ego test,” marking the primary time in his profession he was benched. Regardless of publicly embracing social media jokes about his lack of enjoying time, the guard privately struggled with the embarrassment.
Haliburton has lengthy thrived on exterior criticism as motivation for his efficiency. His strategy to dealing with detractors has change into a defining attribute of his enjoying type.
“I like exterior motivation,” Haliburton informed ESPN. “Any individual’s speaking s— about me, I wish to know as a result of I wish to reply. I wish to return at them.”
Psychological Well being Struggles and Restoration
The exterior strain started affecting Haliburton’s on-court efficiency early within the season. He averaged 17.8 factors and eight.5 assists on 45% taking pictures by means of the All-Star break, lacking the midseason showcase solely.
For the primary time in his profession, Haliburton admitted basketball wasn’t bringing him pleasure. He sought assist from the Pacers’ psychological well being staff and took a visit to Mexico throughout All-Star weekend to reset mentally.
“Having all these expectations, I did not deal with them the correct approach,” Haliburton stated. “I needed to simply be trustworthy with myself.”
The turning level got here after the All-Star break. Haliburton averaged 20.6 factors and 11.0 assists on 53% taking pictures over his last 21 common season video games, serving to Indiana safe the No. 4 seed within the Japanese Convention.
Historic Playoff Efficiency
The Pacers have gained three playoff video games this postseason regardless of trailing by seven or extra factors within the last minute. Solely the 2014 Thunder completed even one such comeback within the play-by-play period since 1998.
Haliburton joins LeBron James (2018) as the one gamers to document a number of go-ahead discipline objectives within the last two seconds throughout a single postseason. His clutch success stems from expertise gained since arriving in Indiana through commerce in February 2022.
“My group needs me to take these photographs,” Haliburton stated. “Everyone’s residing and dying with it at that time. That provides me lots of confidence.”
Rick Carlisle credit Haliburton’s early struggles in clutch conditions for creating his present excellence. From 2021-2023, the guard shot simply 10-for-30 in comparable late-game situations earlier than his latest historic run.
