Indianapolis – Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton rejected any concern about her injury status before match 3 of the NBA final, recognizing after training on Tuesday that he was dealing with “one thing in the lower leg” but that he felt good and would not be hampered in any way for match 3.
“I don’t think there is no more to develop,” said Haliburton. “I feel good and I will be ready to go for match 3.”
Haliburton walked with a MOU by leaving his post-match press conference after scoring 17 points in match 2, a defeat of 123-107 in Oklahoma City on Sunday evening. During training on Tuesday, Haliburton had recorded his right ankle, but according to coach Rick Carlisle, the Guard Star of Pacers was not limited on the ground.
“I know he has a little discomfort,” said Carlisle on Tuesday. “He feels it. But every day, it’s better. I don’t think you will hear him make a big problem.
“This is the time of year when it simply does not go better than that. The atmosphere, the interest, the opportunity, the return and the fact of being at home, I mean, there are so many things to excite. We have a few guys who are slightly under the weather; I do not think that nothing will prevent these guys from playing in the game.”
Instead of dwelling on any potential injury, Haliburton was much more focused on his need for improvements in match 3. It is on average 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists on 50% shooting so far in this series, thanks to a fourth consecutive quarter. He recognized after Sunday’s match that he had to be better in the first half of the matches to prevent the Pacers from late in two figures – an easy -to -say task than in defense of the Thunder.
“They are really connected to the defensive,” said Haliburton. “I feel like they are mixing blankets. Coach [Mark] Daigneault is not afraid to do things on the fly. It does nothing very traditional.
“They really did it all year round. I just have the impression that they are ready to mix things. The most important thing is just staff. Their staff are different from everywhere else.”
Additional defensive attention was a theme throughout the eliminatory series of the opposing teams trying to take the ball out of Haliburton’s hands, but Carlisle noted that there was a major difference with the Thunder.
“The difference is that Oklahoma has more people to throw on a great player,” said Carlisle. “We have crossed these situations several times, not only during the playoffs, but during the regular season, not only this season, but on the previous seasons. We will have to adapt and create better situations. We will have to be better.”
For Haliburton, Getting Better begins with the revision of the film. He has become a meticulous cinema observer in recent seasons, which has helped him, as well as the Pacers, to make adjustments from one game to another.
Indiana has not abandoned consecutive matches since March 8 to 10.
“Playing two games against these guys is really good,” said Haliburton. “It gives me more movies to watch, see where I can be better. I feel like I was not great by the first two games. I’m just trying to take what I can prepare for match 3, just trying to be the best version of myself.”
