After a shocking comeback win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton opened up on his feelings holding a 1-0 series lead. Despite being three wins away from a championship, Haliburton is staying even-keeled as he looks to disprove all the doubters who questioned his team.
“What’s the point?” Haliburton told Andscape after Game 1. “Ain’t nobody expected us to win this [expletive] anyway. So, what’s the point of tripping? Not a person expected us to win not a single series we played in. So, what’s the point of tripping? We are playing with house money, really. We have been playing with house money all playoffs.”
The Thunder began Game 1 on Thursday with a sizeable lead before the Pacers came roaring back down the stretch of the game. It was a miraculous comeback for Indiana, and Hali sealed the win with an amazing game-winner. Instead of celebrating the unlikely victory, however, the Pacers have kept their composure and are committed to maintaining their focus until the very end.
For a team so young and inexperienced (first Finals appearance since 2000), showing that level of discipline and maturity is admirable, and it shows that the Pacers aren’t taking this moment lightly. They are not just happy to be in the Finals; they want to win the whole thing and prove all the doubters wrong.
Coming into the playoffs as the fourth seed, the Pacers were major underdogs in the East, and nobody gave them a chance to make a deep playoff run. They’ve been picked against through nearly the entire postseason and had to face major doubts against each of their opponents (Bucks, Cavaliers, and New York Knicks).
As good as Tyrese Haliburton is, he can’t do it all, and the Pacers aren’t nearly as deep or star-studded as some other franchises. For most critics, that’s enough to count the Pacers out of the title race. Yet, with a fast-paced offense and elite chemistry on the court, the Pacers have found a formula for success that has them on the verge of making history.
Before it began, nobody thought Indiana would even make the Finals, much less lead 1-0 over the NBA’s winningest team this season. But before Haliburton and the Pacers can relax, they must take care of business and win three more games in the series to secure the championship. Only then will Haliburton be satisfied, and he can call the season a resounding success.
Game 2 is on Sunday, and, as usual, the Pacers will not be favored to win. Fortunately, the team has been beating the odds all season long, and they will not let the lack of faith deter them. If Haliburton and company can stick to their game plan and lean on what’s been working all season, they have a good chance to steal Game 2 as well and head back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a 2-0 series lead. Win or lose, this season is already a massive success for the Pacers and they’ve already exceeded everyone’s expectations.
