Bold Predictions for 2024 NBA Playoffs Conference Finals

Tyrese HaliburtonElsa/Getty Images

Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers in scoring last season, and he was on his way to doing the same prior to the Pascal Siakam trade in 2023-24. So, this might not seem all that bold.

However, he averaged just 16.5 points and shot 32.2 percent from three over his last 39 games of the regular season. Then, he averaged 14.6 and shot 30.5 percent from deep in his first seven playoff games. And again, Boston has exactly the kind of perimeter defenders necessary to make life hard on him outside.

Haliburton is starting to look like the pre-injury version of himself, though. He went for 34, 35 and 20 in Games 2, 3 and 4 of the conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. Then, he had 26 points and six threes in the closeout Game 7 on Sunday.

The burst appears to be back (at least most of the way), and the 24-year-old’s deep jumpers don’t look as laborious as they did when he was nursing that injured hamstring.

And with Haliburton rounding back into form, these Pacers-Celtics games feel as likely to turn into shootouts as any from the Eastern Conference this postseason.

Remember those offensive numbers at the end of the last slide?

Well, Indiana was second in points per 100 possessions, tied for first in effective field-goal percentage, 10th in threes per game, tied for ninth in three-point percentage, fourth in fast break points and second in pace.

There will be some high-scoring games in this series, and Haliburton’s shooting is going to help Indiana stay connected (at least enough to keep things competitive).

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