Tyrese Haliburton Faces Strong Message Before Game 5 Amid Bold Comparison

Tyrese Haliburton is no longer the plucky underdog. He’s the face of a Finals team tied 2–2, entering a pivotal Game 5 with championship expectations and cameras zoomed in tighter than a LeBron reaction meme. After blowing a 7-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 4, the Pacers are wobbling—and all eyes are on Tyrese to steady the ship.

He’s been magical, sure. Game-winners, near triple-doubles, and some absolutely ridiculous passes. But now, as Finals momentum flips back and forth faster than a Kendrick Perkins take, NBA veterans are stepping in with some hard truths.

Former NBA champion Brendan Haywood didn’t mince words. “This [Pacers] team has EERILY similar vibes to our 2011 Mavericks squad,” he said, lighting a fire under every Indy fan’s dream scenario. But the follow-up hit harder: “Sometimes Haliburton kinda lets the game come to him. This ain’t one of those games.”

Channing Frye didn’t hold back when talking about what the Pacers need from Tyrese Haliburton. “No, you gotta eat first, big dog,” he said, pointing to how crucial it is for Haliburton to be aggressive from the jump. Frye doubled down, adding, “To me he’s good, he’s very good, and he’s shown at the end of games he can get by guys. That’s not him all game. The one-on-one—they need to move bodies.” In short, Frye’s calling for Haliburton to stop waiting and start asserting—because when your floor general eats, the rest of the team follows.

Game 5 needs a take-over mode Tyrese, not the passive floor general who hopes the offense flows like a summer breeze. If Tyrese wants to cement himself in Finals lore, now’s the time to drive, dish, and dominate like he’s got Dirk’s ghost whispering in his ear.

Haywood’s comments drew a bold but intriguing parallel between the 2011 Mavericks and the 2025 Pacers. And he’s not wrong. Both teams were helmed by Rick Carlisle, who masterfully implemented a team-first offensive system to overcome more star-studded lineups—in 2011, it was LeBron’s Heat; now, it’s the SGA-led Thunder. The similarities don’t stop there. That Finals series also saw Dallas split the first four games before stealing Game 5 on the road—an inflection point that shifted everything. If Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers want to script a similar underdog tale, they’ll need to do the same: steal one more in Oklahoma City.

Haliburton’s Playoff Run: From Silent Killer to Finals Firestarter

Let’s be real—Tyrese hasn’t coasted into this moment. He earned it. In Game 1, he dropped a buzzer-beater with 0.3 seconds left, reminding fans of MJ’s 1997 magic. In Game 3, he nearly pulled off a triple-double (22/11/9), pushing the Pacers ahead 2–1 and leading like he’d been here before.

Through four Finals games, he’s averaged 17.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 6 rebounds—efficient, versatile, and dependable. His postseason totals? 372 points, 186 assists, 47.3% from the field, and a stunning 13-of-15 on late-game clutch shots. That’s not just stats—that’s legacy mathematics.

His journey started in the first round vs. Milwaukee, averaging 17.6 points and 11.6 assists with multiple OT daggers. He followed that with big plays against Cleveland, including a 31/6/8 effort and another OT win in Game 4. Against New York? A historic 32/15/12 line with zero turnovers. That’s NBA 2K on Hall of Fame mode without sliders.

Still, Game 4 was a hiccup—one of those games that feels like you’re watching prime Shaq shoot free throws. Tyrese ended with 18 points and 7 assists, but went ice-cold in the clutch. In Game 5’s first quarter? 0-of-2 shooting and a -10 rating. It wasn’t just him—the entire Pacers squad looked like they were playing with flat basketballs.

Meanwhile, OKC was cleaner than a Tim Duncan bank shot. Jalen Williams, Shai, Chet—everyone contributed. And that’s the difference: while Tyrese has been carrying the load, the Thunder are sharing it like its pizza after practice.

Game 5 is Tyrese’s crossroads. Will he pull a 2016 Kyrie and erupt for 40+? Or will he disappear like 2018 Raptors DeRozan? Indiana doesn’t need a “feel the game” version of Haliburton. They need the guy who stared down New York, hit game-winners, and made assists look like poetry in sneakers.

If Brendan Haywood’s Mavericks comparison holds, Tyrese could write his own Dirk-style redemption story. But if he fades, the Thunder might just dance their way to a title.

Your move, Tyrese.