07-10 10:49Views 5449
Kevin Durant praised Tyrese Haliburton's playmaking abilities on the "Mind the Game" podcast, specifically highlighting Haliburton's tendency to "kick the ball ahead" immediately after receiving it, regardless of who the recipient is. Durant emphasized that this habit of not always dribbling across half-court is an underrated factor in the Indiana Pacers' offense.
Durant explained two key advantages of Haliburton's kick-ahead passes: they significantly speed up the Pacers' offensive pace (a major reason the team ranked third offensively last season) and they catch defenses off guard, making it difficult for opponents to contain the high-powered attack without the right defenders. He described Haliburton as smart, calculated, and efficient in utilizing the team's weapons.
Durant elaborated that Haliburton's kick-ahead passes create pressure on the defense by getting teammates like Pascal Siakam or Obi Toppin moving downhill towards the basket early in the possession, leading to actions like dribble-handoffs (e.g., to Aaron Nesmith). Durant believes this approach is a big reason why the Pacers play so cohesively as a group.
The summary noted Haliburton's elite playmaking credentials, averaging 9.2 assists per game (third in the league) last season. Before his Achilles injury in the NBA Finals, he was averaging 17.3 points, 8.6 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game on 46.3% field goal shooting and 34% from three-point range.
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