A few years ago, Tyrese Haliburton made a humble admission. “I am a no-star in high school,” he said, reflecting on his lack of recognition in his younger days. “You may have heard of 3 stars or something like that, but I am no star.” At that time, he had no idea how far this underdog mentality would take him. Fast forward to today, and Haliburton has become the beating heart of the Indiana Pacers. His journey from overlooked talent to postseason hero is nothing short of remarkable.

So, how important is Tyrese Haliburton to the Pacers? Let’s put it this way: when he shows up, they win. Just look at Game 2 against the Cavs. Down late, Haliburton hit a step-back three after grabbing his own missed free throw. That shot gave Indiana a 2-0 series lead. But what happens when he’s quiet? Game 3 told the story. He attempted only eight shots, scored just four points, and the Pacers got blown out. See the pattern? When Haliburton’s aggressive, they’re 14-4 in the playoffs. When he’s not, the road gets rough.

Recently, Haliburton’s growth was discussed by NBA analyst Chris Johnson, who recalled his “no-star” comment. That conversation led Dwyane Wade to reflect on Haliburton’s game. Wade pointed out, “His game don’t look like you expect it to look, right? He got an unorthodox form.” Wade pointed out how Haliburton’s unconventional style, where he doesn’t look like a typical playmaker, keeps opponents guessing. “He picking you apart, throwing that ball up. His teammates love playing with him, you could tell. I think that’s one of the biggest things,” he added.

And this postseason is evidence of that. He has been brilliant over his first seven playoff games, recording five double-doubles and hitting two game-winning shots. That’s something, right?

As Wade put it, the Pacers are “battle-tested,” and they carry a mentality that reflects that. The Pacers, often overlooked by the league, don’t shy away from the challenge. However, he also pointed out another thing, “They not giving them no respect. We don’t care about y’all winning 60-something games in the regular season. We feel we better than y’all.” To him, this gives them an edge over the Cavs. He stated, “I’m going to go get this rebound because I feel like I can go get this rebound after I miss this free throw. Like, I’m better.”

As Haliburton continues to prove with his quick decisions, movement, and misdirection, sometimes the best teams are the ones who believe in themselves the most, regardless of the star power surrounding them.

After the silence: Tyrese Haliburton faces the music, breaks down game 3 struggles

Why didn’t Tyrese Haliburton speak after the Pacers’ Game 3 loss? That was the question circling everywhere. On Saturday, he finally sat down with reporters and addressed everything: his rough night, the team’s flat energy, and even his surprising absence postgame. “I don’t run away from any questions,” he said calmly.

Once he got into the details, Haliburton didn’t hold back. He openly pointed out how Cleveland’s defenders disrupted his rhythm, especially Max Strus, who face-guarded him all night. “I gotta do a better job of keeping myself involved as a screener, creating chaos, creating movement myself,” he admitted, adding that standing still was exactly what the Cavs wanted. Instead of frustration, Haliburton offered insight and a simple plan to adjust. That honesty made his earlier silence feel even more unusual.

Then came the chess match against Cleveland’s 3-2 zone. With Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley at the top, Indiana couldn’t get comfortable. “That’s what zones are, to slow us down. They did a good job of that,” Haliburton said, recognizing the purpose behind it. He saw missed opportunities but remained optimistic, pointing to game film as a tool to find openings. The team, he believes, knows how to counter it now; they just need to execute better.

Mobley, who missed Game 2, also made Haliburton’s night tougher by blocking two of his floaters. Did that throw him off? Maybe. Haliburton didn’t deny that Mobley’s presence changed things, but focused more on self-improvement. “I think there’s still areas for me to be better that aren’t revolving around Evan Mobley,” he said.

Despite the loss, Haliburton didn’t lose its perspective. “Sun came up this morning,” he shrugged. He knows he didn’t meet expectations, but with Game 5 looming, his mindset hasn’t wavered. “We’re still in a good spot,” he reminded everyone that the Pacers are up 3-1. For Haliburton, the real response starts now.