Five reasons the Pacers should shut down Tyrese Haliburton for the season
Plus Myles Turner. The final stretch of the season is an exploratory phase with an emphasis on development and the big picture.
Tyrese Haliburton had an All-Star season. He picked up where he left off last season, having played in all 26 games with the Pacers after being acquired midseason.
This season is different though. He’s settled in. He knows his place within the organization and the Pacers know exactly what he can do and how he can help.
He’s the heartbeat of the team; without him, they’re not close to the same team.
They are 5-14 this season without their All-Star point guard.
And there’s no need for him to play again over the final two weeks of the season. I’ve felt this way for over a week, and now I’m finally putting it in writing. These are the discussions the Pacers front office must be having, along with head coach Rick Carlisle.
The same should be said for veteran center Myles Turner as well. Especially when considering the logjam at center that already has veteran Daniel Theis being a healthy scratch for the last month.
I also say this understanding that culture, building habits and making every game matter to a young team is important. And noting how one of their focuses last offseason was to bring in players who hated to miss games, guys who could be counted on each night.
To be clear, this is not an easy conversation to have with Haliburton because he hates missing games. Despises it. He should absolutely be included in the conversation, but the franchise must have the big picture in mind.