Halliburton just can’t seem to get going.
The Indiana Pacers fell 103-108 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2023-2024 NBA regular-season finale on Monday (Jan. 19) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Pascal Siakam had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Tyreese Halliburton had 14 points and 12 assists, 토토사이트 추천 but the offense fell short in the loss.
Halliburton’s performance was a disappointment. He had 14 points and 12 assists, but was inefficient, shooting just 4 of 13 from the field and 1 of 8 from three-point range. If Halliburton played well enough, Indiana could have pulled away with the win.
Halliburton’s recent three-point shooting has been abysmal. In his last five games, Halliburton has attempted 36 three-pointers and made just six. That’s a whopping 16.7% success rate. That’s a number you might as well not shoot.
Halliburton is one of the best passing guards in the NBA, but he relies heavily on the three-point shot in his offense. Halliburton’s main weapon is a long-range three-pointer with a quick release. Without the three-pointer, Halliburton’s effectiveness plummets.
Without the three-pointer, opposing defenses have no reason to press him hard and there is less space for him to exploit.
Halliburton had a breakout season at the beginning of the year, and there was even talk of him being an MVP candidate. But a mid-season hamstring injury ruined everything.
Hamstring injuries are something to be treated with care. They have a high risk of reoccurrence, and it’s hard to perform at your best when you’re playing with an injury.
But Halliburton pushed himself to play. That’s because of the money that comes with making the All-NBA team. Starting this season, the NBA introduced new requirements for the MVP and All-NBA awards. The rule was that players had to play at least 65 games to be eligible.
There’s a reason why Halliburton is so desperate to make the All-NBA team. He’s up for an extension after this season.
At the end of their four-year contract after being drafted, first-round players are eligible to sign a maximum contract worth 25% of the salary cap. However, there is an exception called the “Rose Rule” that allows players to earn 30% of the salary cap if they are named MVP, All-NBA Team, or Defensive Player of the Year during their rookie contract.
The NBA’s salary cap is about 200 billion. The difference between 25% and 30% of that is a huge difference. That’s why Halliburton is pushing the envelope.
The problem is that Halliburton’s slump is getting worse.
After averaging 16 points and 9 assists on 48% shooting in February, Halliburton is averaging 15.4 points and 9 assists on 41% shooting in March. That’s a serious drop-off after averaging 28.6 points and 11.7 assists in December and 21.4 points and 14 assists in January.
Halliburton’s struggles are also affecting his team, Indiana. Indiana declared a winnow midseason when they acquired Siakam via trade.
The team envisioned Halliburton on the perimeter and Siakam in the paint, but the synergy between the two hasn’t been as good as it could have been with Halliburton’s struggles.
Indiana, which had Halliburton at the top of the Eastern Conference at the start of the season, has now fallen to a position where it will have to fight for a play-in tournament spot.
Both Indiana and Halliburton are in desperate need of a rebound. Can Halliburton break out of its slump?