The NBA Playoffs are a crucible where stars are forged and legends cement their status. This year, the Indiana Pacers have defied all odds, steamrolling through the Eastern Conference to reach the NBA Finals, a truly remarkable achievement. At the heart of their Cinderella run is none other than Tyrese Haliburton, the dynamic floor general who has captivated the league. Now, a voice that knows championships better than most, Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green, has dropped a “surgical” truth bomb about Haliburton’s understated genius. Get ready to rethink everything you thought you knew about the Pacers’ superstar, because Green’s insights reveal a deceptive brilliance that’s about to be put to the ultimate test in the Finals.
The Genius of Haliburton: More Than Just Space
The common perception of Tyrese Haliburton’s offensive game often revolves around his exceptional passing and ability to find open teammates. Draymond Green, in his latest podcast with Baron Davis, acknowledges this but quickly dives deeper, revealing the subtle yet devastating aspects of Haliburton’s game that many overlook. “They give him so much space,” Green observed, referring to opposing defenses. While some might attribute this to his somewhat deliberate shot release, Green clarifies, “They don’t realize he’s surgical with it.” This suggests that Haliburton’s seemingly slow mechanics are actually a calculated part of his offensive rhythm, allowing him to precisely dissect defenses with his passing or, when defenses commit, his scoring.
The Underrated Handle: Haliburton’s Sneaky Weapon
Perhaps the most startling revelation from Green is about Haliburton’s ball-handling. “The reason they don’t pressure him like that is Hali’s handle is very underrated and sneaky,” Green asserted. This directly contradicts what many casual viewers might perceive from watching on TV, where his dribble might not appear as flashy or overtly aggressive as, say, a Kyrie Irving. However, Green, a master defender and high-IQ player himself, understands the effectiveness over flash. He elaborates, “I think all of those guys also know that if they try to pressure, he’ll bop they a– so fast.” This speaks to a deceptive quickness and control that punishes overzealous defenders, forcing them to give him space.
Green even draws a fascinating comparison to ball-handling maestros Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving, noting, “Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving, their ball handling starts when it appears to you that they’ve lost the basketball. Hali got some of that.” This insight highlights Haliburton’s unique rhythm and ability to keep defenders off-balance, even when his dribble might look unconventional.
“They give him so much space… They don’t realize he’s surgical with it… Hali’s handle is very underrated and sneaky.”
Draymond Green on Tyrese Haliburton 🗣️
(via @DraymondShow)pic.twitter.com/E7T5go7Yuu
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 1, 2025
The 6’7″ Stride: A Nightmare for Defenders
Beyond the “surgical” precision and sneaky handle, Green points to Haliburton’s physical attributes, particularly his size and stride, as a critical factor. “With his stride, he’s gone,” Green emphasizes. At 6’7″, Haliburton possesses the height and length of a wing player, but with the court vision and ball-handling of an elite point guard. This combination allows him to cover significant ground with each dribble, making it incredibly difficult for defenders to recover once he makes his move. The visual deception on TV, as Green notes, makes his effective acceleration even more dangerous; what looks like a casual dribble can instantly turn into a powerful drive to the basket or a perfectly timed pass. This unique blend of size, skill, and deceptive speed makes him a multi-faceted threat that traditional defensive schemes struggle to contain.
Conclusion: Draymond Green’s “surgical” breakdown of Tyrese Haliburton’s game offers a rare, high-level insight into what makes the Pacers’ floor general so devastatingly effective. It’s not just his passing, or his ability to create space; it’s the intricate, often overlooked details of his handle, his precise shot rhythm, and his deceptive stride that collectively create an offensive maestro. As the Indiana Pacers prepare to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, Green’s analysis underscores the monumental challenge facing the league’s top defenses. While the Thunder will undoubtedly try to “put pressure on the ball,” Green’s insights suggest that stopping Haliburton is far more complex than it appears on paper. The NBA Finals is set to be a masterclass in strategic chess, with Tyrese Haliburton as the enigmatic kingpin.