Indiana Pacers exit interviews: Tyrese Haliburton helped set a foundation and knows what is next
Tyrese Haliburton set everything in motion for the Indiana Pacers this season. In the literal sense, he accelerated the team's pace and kept them in motion, which boosted their offense and made them a more threatening team. In a more casual sense, he grew into a star-leve player and put the Pacers' building plans in motion, showing that the team is already ahead of schedule in its rebuild.
Indiana blew past expectations this season, and Haliburton was the biggest reason why. He averaged 20.7 points and 10.4 assists per game on his way to being named an Eastern Conference All-Star, his first appearance in the All-Star game. He did so while maintaining his 40% accuracy from long range and taking on his largest usage ever. And now, because of that season, the Pacers have the foundation set for their path forward.
"I feel like we established a good base and know where we need to be going into next year," Haliburton siad of the Pacers season at his exit interview with gathered media last month. "I'm excited for the opportunity and for the chance to get better."
Many of those words and phrases became a theme for Haliubrton in his exit interview. He used the word excited multiple times when talking about the future of the team. He is pleased with the direction of the team and used the word foundation more than once to explain what the Pacers built this year.
He also discussed the team's identity, something he helped set. Before this season, it wasn't clear what Indiana's bread and butter was. They didn't have a play style or quirk that was their go-to method to win games.
With Haliburton, they have that now. They are a fast-paced team that thrives in transition and punishes defenses before they can get set.
"Our offensive identity. We know who we are, we know where guys contribute. We know we can score the ball versus anybody," Haliburton said. "We know how fast we play, and that's not going to change as long as I'm leading the offense."
The Pacers averaged 13.97 seconds per offensive possession with Haliburton on the court this year, a rapid speed. He got the team out and moving, and the blue and gold finished fifth in pace on the season. It is clear how the Pacers want to get their advantages now, and Haliburton makes it all happen.
His outside shooting ties it all together. There's no easy way to slow down the 23-year old. He can punish most defenses, and he knows how to set up his teammates when opposing teams overload his space and force him to give up the ball. Indiana has a bright future with Haliburotn in the mix.
"I like where we're going. We've got a lot of youth," Haliburton said. "I feel comfortable with where we are foundationally... I'm just looking forward to next year."
Next year, though, is where things get harder. The Pacers, in large part due to Haliburton's play, will face expectations next season. And not external expectations, but internal goals. They want to be better, and in the postseason, in 2024.
But it won't be easy. Most coaches and players, including Haliburton, within the organization realize that it's much easier to go from 25 wins to 35 — like the Pacers just did — than it is to go from 35 to 45. So while Indiana would like to make such a jump next year, they will have to work hard to do it.
"Expectations externally mean nothing. They shouldn't mean anything to anybody," Haliburton said. "You can't control what people have to say about you. We had expectations coming into the year. We knew that if people were here we had a chance to be in the playoffs."
To Haliburton's credit, they were close. When the All-Star guard played, the Pacers went 28-28, and a .500 record would have gotten the blue and gold at least into the play-in tournament this season. That still isn't quite a playoff appearance, but it's within striking distance.
But the Pacers, and their leader, want more next season. They know the foundation of the team is strong enough to be playing beyond the regular season.
"We set our expectations as a group. We know what we want to do," Haliburton said. "Next year, we want to be in the playoffs. We're not going to short change that at all. We know that's what we want to do. That's 100% the goal going into next year."
That goal would be far away for the Pacers if it weren't for Tyrese Haliburton's ascent. But it isn't far off at all. The point guard has spent his time in Indiana getting to know his teammates and being a leader at a young age. The group has built chemistry and established an identity. Haliburton made that all happen, and he's ready to take the team up to its next height.
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