Though there are multiple teams navigating past injuries to key players this season, the Indiana Pacers have been particularly unlucky. Three of their rotation pieces, including a starter, have already been sidelined. Two, James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson, are likely to be out for the remainder of the season with a torn Achilles. The third, Aaron Nesmith, is feared to have torn his Achilles as well.
Now, Kevin O’Connor (of the eponymous The Kevin O’Connor Show) reports that Tyrese Haliburton is dealing with a nagging back injury.
“I’ve had some sources around the league tell me that they believe it’s not [Tyrese Haliburton’s] hamstring that’s the cause of his struggles this year, it’s his back.
He had back spasms in the post-season. He’s still wearing a heating pack on the bench.”
via (@KevinOConnorNBA) pic.twitter.com/0EcMW5KKMN
— The Trade Deadline (@_TradeDeadline) November 6, 2024
Haliburton is averaging 15.8 points and 7.5 assists per game this season while shooting a career-low 39.8 percent from the field and 27.0 percent from three.
Concerns About Pacers Franchise Star Tyrese Haliburton’s Health Are Back
Haliburton’s physical health is becoming a real talking point.
The 24-year-old hasn’t quite earned the ‘injury prone’ label. However, he’s missed 41 games over the past two seasons due to knee, groin, back, hamstring, wrist, and ankle concern. That being said, there’s no reason to doubt O’Connor’s report past natural skepticism. Haliburton’s picking up his play after a slow start to the season, but he has been stacking up injuries.
The problem for him and the Pacers is that, if he plays as well as his potential suggests, he won’t have much free time until next offseason. The All-Star Break could afford him a bit of rest, but he surely would like a third consecutive All-Star selection. If Indiana clinches a playoff berth, his summer could be abbreviated. As a result, both he and the team are in a relatively tricky position.
R&R
The best solution could be to let Haliburton sit out for a couple of weeks, or longer if necessary. The Pacers should be strategic about when they do this, choosing a point in the season that isn’t too pivotal.
In theory, the beginning of the season could be the best time to allow Haliburton to rest. Of course, it could help the team finish the season strong, especially if Haliburton is a bit fresher than other players. However, this is also a period of time in which most teams are trying to figure themselves out. As a result, even if the Pacers were to struggle with Haliburton out, there might not be a significant gap in wins and losses between them and other teams.
No team wants to start the season off behind the curve though. Yet, at 4-4, Indiana may already believe they are. After going 47-25 last season, the Pacers want to keep building on their momentum rather than regressing. Furthermore, because Haliburton is central to their scheme and success, there’s going to be an adjustment period when he returns. No matter how well they played up to that point, they could hit a snag while reintegrating him.
There are other segments of the season that would be inconvenient for the Pacers.
Just before and after the All-Star Break, teams want to play particularly well. Towards the end of the season, teams are jostling are for playoff position. So, perhaps the doldrum winter months —when NBA teams start going through the motion —would be the best time to get Haliburton some R&R.
