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Tyrese Haliburton's Masterclass in Pace

You watched the Pacers-Clippers game, right? If you didn't, you missed a clinic in how to dictate tempo. Tyrese Haliburton, man. He just completely controls the pace. When the Pacers are cooking, it's all about transition and early offense. Haliburton had 18 points and 14 assists, but it was his ability to push the ball after a make or miss that really set the tone. He forces defenses to scramble, and the Clippers simply couldn't keep up with that initial burst.

Look at the numbers. The Pacers scored 27 fast break points. That's not just luck. That's a direct result of Haliburton's decision-making and the entire team's commitment to getting out and running. They were relentlessly pushing, and the Clippers often looked a bit flat-footed trying to get back. Kawhi Leonard had 26 points, but he’s not built to chase Haliburton for 48 minutes.

The Clippers' Stubborn Small-Ball Problem

Here's the thing: The Clippers keep trying to play small, and it's killing them against certain matchups. Ivica Zubac played only 19 minutes, and for significant stretches, they had P.J. Tucker or Robert Covington trying to guard Myles Turner. Turner, who had 24 points and 7 rebounds, isn't a dominant low-post scorer, but he's agile enough to punish smaller defenders and lethal as a pick-and-pop threat. He went 4-for-6 from deep, and those are mostly looks he wouldn't get if Zubac was glued to him.

When the Clippers downsize, they give up offensive rebounds and easy put-backs. The Pacers had 11 offensive boards, leading to 18 second-chance points. That's too many free possessions for a team that already plays with such pace. You can't give Tyrese Haliburton extra chances to find open shooters.

And honestly, I think Paul George (26 points, 6 assists) is sometimes a victim of their lineup choices. He has to shoulder so much defensively when they go small, covering multiple positions. It drains his energy for offense. They need more traditional size, more often.

Defensive Adjustments That Never Came

The Pacers were carving them up with simple pick-and-rolls, especially with Haliburton as the ball-handler. The Clippers' hedging was inconsistent, and their rotations behind it were often late. They allowed Haliburton to get downhill too easily, leading to kick-outs for wide-open threes or easy lobs to Daniel Theis (13 points, 5-for-6 shooting) rolling to the rim.

Real talk: You can't let a point guard like Haliburton get comfortable. You have to send two bodies at him, force the ball out of his hands, and make someone else beat you. The Clippers just didn't apply enough pressure at the point of attack. They tried to switch some, but then Turner would screen and they'd have a guard trying to contest his shot, or a big trying to cover a quick guard off the dribble. It was a mess.

Unless the Clippers commit to playing Zubac more minutes and finding a way to protect the paint without sacrificing their perimeter defense, they're going to keep running into these issues. They have the talent, but the coaching staff’s tactical decisions are holding them back.

My bold prediction: The Clippers will continue to struggle against up-tempo teams that exploit their lack of consistent size, ultimately costing them a top-four seed in the Western Conference.