By Darius
In a recent anonymous poll of NBA players conducted by The Athletic, Tyrese Haliburton of the NBA's Indiana Pacers was deemed the "most overrated player" in the eyes of many (14.4%). After a sluggish start to the season, this talented young player regained his exquisite playmaking abilities in the second half, and his shooting also returned to form. However, due to inconsistent performance and relatively weak defense performance, both insiders and outsiders could only describe him with one phrase: "not up to par."
In February of this year, I myself watched the matchup between the Lakers and the Pacers live in Los Angeles. At that time, the Lakers didn't even field LeBron James, and the newly traded sensation Luka Dončić was also an observer. Nevertheless, the Lakers relied on Austin Reeves' remarkable performance to overwhelm the Pacers.
At that time, I didn't see anything impressive about the Pacers; whether it was their offensive tactics, player abilities, or defensive strategies, the entire team failed to shine against a depleted Lakers squad. To be honest, I also felt that Haliburton was kind of overrated at that time. However, I overlooked one thing: the playoffs, not the regular season, are where superstars truly shine.
Unlike the regular season, the NBA playoffs are a knockout format, where everyone no longer seeks just long-term success but must fight to win every game. Under this system, players and teams that might have taken it easy during the regular season often suddenly "turn up the intensity," significantly boosting their performance. To match the intensity of the games, the referees often loosen their standards, which can lead to some players who thrived in the regular season struggling to adapt.
Young Tyrese Haliburton has shown through his actions that he belongs to the former group—those who may play casually during the regular season but shine in crucial moments. In the three rounds of playoffs so far, he has repeatedly delivered clutch performances, including game-winners, and today he posted an unprecedented stat line of 32 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists, 4 steals, and NO turnovers.
It's no exaggeration to say that his performance in this playoff journey has surpassed that of countless NBA stars. Under his leadership, the Pacers first defeated the MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo's Bucks, then overcame the strong Cavaliers, who were the top seed in the East, and now lead 3-1 against the Knicks, who are claimed to have "the strongest lineup in the past twenty years." This outcome leaves critics, including myself, speechless and turns the "most overrated player" vote into a joke.
What's even more remarkable is that after the game that was overturned the day before, despite having the most impressive performance of the entire team, Haliburton still took all the blame as a leader, saying outright that he needed to play better.
"In competitive sports, strength is paramount." During low moments, facing widespread ridicule, Haliburton, usually a cheerful and amiable young man, has shown incredible resilience. It seems that his confidence allows him to remain untroubled; because he possesses real skill, he can maintain his composure amidst external noise.
Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming, when facing his own lows, humorously remarked, "Is it allowed for you to play like a piece of sh-t but not for others to comment on you?" Yes indeed... we can't silence others, but at least we can improve ourselves. With enough strength, outside ridicule becomes self-inflicted humiliation.
Haliburton understands this principle; do you?
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