Tyrese Haliburton Responds to Criticism with Bold Remarks After Game 3 Victory
After the Indiana Pacers’ loss in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, many pundits pointed to one clear solution: Tyrese Haliburton needed to be more aggressive. The point guard had struggled against a tough Oklahoma City Thunder defense in the series’ first two games. Despite hitting a game-winning shot in Game 1, Haliburton had only scored 31 points across the two games.
Haliburton answered the call in Game 3, delivering an outstanding performance with 22 points and 11 assists to help the Pacers take a 2-1 series lead with a 116-107 win. His playing style was noticeably more assertive, as he actively sought to challenge the OKC defense. After the game, the Pacers star addressed the criticism he’d received over the past couple of days, particularly from “talking heads” whose opinions he doesn’t take seriously.
“Commentary is always what it is,” Haliburton said, responding to the widespread calls for him to be more aggressive. “Most of the time, I couldn’t care less about the talking heads on the big platforms. What do they really know about basketball?… I try to stay off social media as much as possible, but I see it. If ESPN’s on at home, it’s there. It is what it is.”
He added, “At the end of the day, the commentary doesn’t matter. We’re in the NBA Finals, just two wins away from an NBA championship.”
It was a strong response from the 25-year-old, one that followed his earlier comments on NBA TV, where he also pushed back against Charles Barkley’s criticism of Pascal Siakam. Haliburton is clearly not afraid to voice his opinions on the sports media’s take on his team.
The win was a significant moment for Haliburton, but the series is far from over. Game 4 on Friday presents another opportunity for him to silence the critics.
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