The Indiana Pacers are right there. After losing a game they should have won, the team bounced back to clinically beat the Knicks in Game 4. Tyrese Haliburton, with his father back in the building, kept his best for this game. His 32-point triple-double took the headlines and put the Pacers within one win of their first NBA Finals since 2000. Indiana also found other key contributions. But head coach Rick Carlisle doesn’t want to talk about them.

He doesn’t want to talk about Haliburton either. During his post-game presser, the former Mavericks coach admitted he was “tired” of the media making the postseason about statistics. In his mind, players’ performance doesn’t matter in the playoffs. It’s a time of the season when a team’s synergy and unity can transform a series. That is what he wishes to be highlighted.

“I’m just really tired of talking about individual stats this time of the year. It just flies in the face of what’s necessary… I mean, this is a team game. It’s not about the numbers. It’s about being ready. And a lot of times, defining plays in the playoffs have nothing to do with statistical things. They are loose ball plays, charges taken, stuff like that. I mean, celebrate that. Talk about that. Those are the kind of things that are truly important,” Carlisle said when asked about Haliburton.

In games of high importance, players producing majestic moments is what helps teams win. But to Carlisle’s point, the Pacers haven’t been reliant on just Tyrese Haliburton. He was imperious tonight and has been throughout the postseason. However, it’s the Pacers’ depth and their collective effort that sees them on the verge of making the NBA Finals.

Without a group effort and togetherness on the court, no team can make it through. So, even though they have one All-Star essentially, the Pacers have found a variety of ways to win games. At times, it was Aaron Nesmith, Turner has hit some huge shots, and even Pascal Siakam’s consistency has lifted the Pacers.

Rick Carlisle puts Tyrese Haliburton among the greats

Despite Carlisle not wanting to talk about any players in particular, even he couldn’t ignore the heroics of Trese Haliburton. Having been fascinated with the point guard from the time he entered the draft, the Pacers head coach is seeing his vision come to life. Haliburton was spotless tonight, no matter what facet of the game one chooses.

The 25-year-old was only two rebounds short of notching a triple-double by the end of the first half. His playmaking was marked with precision. He threw 15 darts to his teammates, and not once did he make an error.

He became the first player in NBA history to record a game with 30 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds without a single turnover. Likewise, Rick Carlisle sees him being great. But speaking about his distribution skills, he thinks Haliburton’s acumen is comparable to some of the best passers in the history of the game.

“To not have any turnovers in any of those situations is pretty remarkable. But this has become his thing, and you know there will be a new statistical category perhaps named after him somewhere down the line. You know him and Chris Paul, these guys… You can go right down the line some of the all-time greats. I know he takes great pride in that’s a motivating factor,” he said about Haliburton.

After the game, the Pacers’ emphatic point guard was beyond happy about the victory. However, even though he made history and the Pacers are within reach of the Finals, his mentality hasn’t changed. “Feels good, one more to get,” he said while going to the locker room.

In the face of being labelled overrated, Tyrese Haliburton has shown he is among the brightest point guards in the league. And he could be part of the Pacers’ history as the only second superstar to lead them to the NBA Finals.