There is a perception within mainstream media that the NBA in-season tournament has launched Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton into stardom. Bill Simmons of The Ringer released a YouTube video on December 9th asking if Haliburton was a top ten player.
Tyrese Haliburton’s tendencies
Unfortunately, it is difficult to see Haliburton being a star right now due to the predictability of his skill set. Tyrese has spent 44.4% of his offensive possessions as a pick-and-roll ball handler, averaging 7.6 per game. When Tyrese Haliburton runs a pick and roll, his decision-making becomes highly predictable.
In pick-and-roll situations, Tyrese mostly shoots the ball from behind the arc. For example, he had the ball at the top of the key midway through the first quarter of a road against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Myles Turner came over to set a screen for him; Haliburton went over the pick and realized Joel Embiid didn’t come up to defend him on the other side of the screen. Therefore, Haliburton ended the possession, making an open three-pointer.
Haliburton’s tendency has contributed to him taking 46.3% of his shots from behind the arc, averaging 6 per game throughout his career. 76.7% of those attempts have been pull-up threes, averaging 4.6 per game.
However, if a defender can encourage Tyrese Haliburton to attack the basket, he becomes mainly a facilitator. Tyrese Haliburton has attacked the basket 12.9 times per game; he has passed the ball 52% of the time, averaging 6.7 passes per game. Tyrese Haliburton’s habit of passing on drives has led to him taking 17.7% off his shots within 3 feet of his basket, averaging 2.3 per game.
How opponents can neutralize Haliburton
Tyrese will be successful with this style during the regular season because it takes NBA coaches multiple days to develop game plans for an opponent. According to the LA Times, Clippers head coach Ty Lue will take three days to build a game plan for one game.
Lue asks the assistant in charge of scouting the opponent all season to first make a full presentation to him. He decides the Clippers’ counter strategies, while also wanting to lock in on player tendencies. Centers and forwards are given videos showing tendencies of the other team’s “bigs.” Guards watch the opposing guards. Then they switch.
The next day, if time allows, Clippers coaches brief players on the opponent’s top 10-12 plays. The third day focuses on what opponents want from after-timeout plays, and then how the Clippers want to attack the opponent on both ends.
Unfortunately, coaches may not have three days between games to properly develop game plans during the regular season, as teams have 2 to 4 games per week. Consequently, Tyrese Haliburton’s style of play makes it easier for opponents to neutralize him in the playoffs.
Given several days to prepare a game plan, opposing coaches will tell Haliburton’s defender to give him no space behind the arc to force him to attack the basket. If Tyrese Haliburton is forced to drive, he will most likely become a facilitator because of habit\ muscle memory.
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