There would come a day when the basketball community seriously regrets naming Tyrese Haliburton as the most overrated player in the league. The day might already be here because Hali is laying waste to everything in his path in these playoffs. He has already impressed, among many, even Shaquille O’Neal, the biggest young-talent critic out there.
Advertisement
Haliburton might have already ended the Giannis Antetokounmpo era in Milwaukee after beating the Bucks with a driving layup with 1.1 seconds to seal the first-round series. A game later, he stunned the top-seeded Cavaliers 121-112 in Cleveland in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals. He scored 22 points and dished out 13 assists as his Indian Pacers took the lead in the series last Sunday.
What he did Tuesday night may have topped both of those already iconic performances. Haliburton’s game-winning three, again with 1.1 seconds on the clock, helped Indiana overcome an early 20-point deficit to win again at Rocket Arena, a place the Cavs went 34-7 this season. With the 120-119 win, the Pacers are now shockingly up 2-0 as the series shifts to Indiana for Game 3.
Haliburton had received the largest share of the ‘Most Overrated Player’ vote in The Athletic’s recent player poll, and he’s definitely aware of the criticism. After ending the Bucks’ season, he had tweeted “Overrate THAT” as a final mic drop.
The Cleveland crowd serenaded him with an “overrated” chant last night when the Cavs had a big early lead. But Hali proceeded to destroy them once again. The Inside the NBA folks certainly don’t think Haliburton is overrated, and they gave him his flowers last night.
Shaquille O’Neal said, “First of all, Tyrese Haliburton is not an overrated player. He’s a great player, he plays the right way.”
Kenny Smith went on to compare him to Steve Nash and Jason Kidd for his ability to control the pace of a game, putting him just below those two legends.
Hali is certainly doing something right, as he now has Indiana just two games away from a return trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Haliburton has taken the overrated label personally
By all accounts, Haliburton is one of the good guys in the NBA, both on and off the court. Who can forget this past summer when he was a part of Team USA’s Olympic run?
Most All-Stars who have made an All-NBA team may have pouted for not being given much playing time in the Olympics. But Hali seemed genuinely happy to be along for the ride, pumping up his teammates and smiling all over Paris.
He even showed the self-awareness to drop an all-timer of a tweet after the Americans took home gold.
When you ain’t do nun on the group project and still get an A pic.twitter.com/xpshYZhMyA
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) August 10, 2024
It’s been immensely satisfying to see Haliburton take these ludicrous, overrated claims and go nuclear on the rest of the NBA. He’s given everyone no choice but to respect his game now.
And with how wide open these playoffs are looking (road teams have won all five games so far in Round 2). Hali’s clutch play has Pacers fans dreaming of their first Finals appearance since 2000.
