Paul Pierce joins Colin Cowherd to interrupt down Tyrese Haliburton’s brilliance and explains why the Indiana Pacers are a legit menace within the East.
Since John obtained banned from dwelling and highway video games for the foreseeable future in a joint choice by each the league and the Pacers, he has missed his son making two gorgeous photographs on the buzzer.
In Recreation 2 of the Pacers’ second-round sequence in opposition to Cleveland, Haliburton helped his workforce get well from a seven-point deficit within the ultimate minute, making a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to offer them a 120-119 win.
And in Recreation 1 of the convention finals in opposition to the Knicks, he made jaws drop once more by serving to his workforce storm again from a 14-point deficit with 3:44 remaining, making a game-tying 23-foot stepback jumper on the buzzer to tie the rating at 125-125 and ship the sport into additional time, the place the Pacers gained, 138-135.
John did not get to witness these moments in particular person. He did not get to offer his son a hug. He did not get the satisfaction of listening to sold-out arenas flip eerily quiet due to his progeny.
That was actually pushed dwelling after video emerged of John seemingly watching the opening recreation of the convention finals from a bar. After seeing his son make a buzzer-beater after which have fun by wrapping his arms round his neck – a nod to the gesture Reggie Miller made practically 30 years in the past in Recreation 5 of the 1994 Jap Convention Finals – John could possibly be seen within the video emulating the choking movement.
There was one thing really unhappy about watching the person who obtained Haliburton within the recreation of basketball miss his greatest moments. Final postseason, in an appearance on TNT, Shaquille O’Neal requested Haliburton who taught him the right way to play the fitting method. “Him,” Haliburton mentioned of his father.
John tousled. There is not any denying it. He has already missed two of the highlights of his son’s profession. He deserved that. However at this level, it’s honest to surprise if retaining him sidelined is draconian.
What if John have been allowed to attend dwelling video games, however was nonetheless banned from highway video games? Maybe there’s a compromise right here.
That is what TNT analyst Charles Barkley lobbied for after Recreation 1 of the convention finals, personally addressing NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
“Adam, I’m asking you, hey, my man paid his dues,” Barkley mentioned. “He did one thing actually, actually silly, however he’s been punished. And I’m asking you and the Indiana Pacers to let Mr. Haliburton again within the constructing for Video games 3 and 4.”
Draymond Green agreed with Barkley, who went on to double-down on that sentiment after the Pacers beat the Knicks in Recreation 2 on Friday. Because the TNT crew interviewed Haliburton, Barkley interjected, saying, “Free your dad.”
Haliburton flashed a large smile. “Free pops til it is backwards,” he mentioned.
What Haliburton is doing is unprecedented. John ought to get to witness a few of that going ahead. He is 12-for-14 (86 %) on game-tying or go-ahead photographs within the ultimate two minutes of the fourth quarter or additional time this season, common season and playoffs, in accordance with ESPN.
That is the perfect share in a single season because the information began being tracked in 1996-97, in accordance with ESPN Analysis.
And what makes this second much more spectacular is simply a short while in the past, he was removed from the highest of the mountain.
Final summer time, he was mocked for less than taking part in 26 minutes for Crew USA on the Olympic Video games. He posted a photograph of himself sporting the gold medal and wrote, “Whenever you ain’t do nun on the group undertaking and nonetheless get an A.”
The Knicks ‘let Recreation 1 go,’ blow 14-point lead in Pacers’ 138-135 OT win | The Facility
LeSean McCoy reacts to the Indiana Pacers’ 138-135 comeback OT win, then decides whether or not the New York Knicks blew it or if Indy gained it.
He didn’t make the All-Star workforce this yr following getting that honor in 2023 and 2024.
Then, after he was voted essentially the most overrated participant within the league, he was taunted by Cavaliers followers who weaponized that phrase right into a chant within the first spherical of the playoffs.
Haliburton responded to all of it by changing into arguably the perfect participant within the league this postseason.
When it has counted most, in essentially the most pressure-filled moments on the largest of phases, he has made everybody take discover of him.
And as he tries to steer his workforce to their first-ever championship, just one factor might make this all sweeter.
His dad witnessing a few of it in particular person.
Melissa Rohlin is an NBA author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the league for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Instances, the Bay Space Information Group and the San Antonio Categorical-Information. Comply with her on Twitter @melissarohlin.
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