The Indiana Pacers are inching closer to capturing their first-ever NBA championship following a 116-107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Finals. The Pacers managed to pull away late in this game and are now up 2-1 against the Thunder.
A big reason for the Pacers' success in this run has been their up-tempo motion offense. No one on the team tends to hold on to the ball for too long, and it's all free-flowing.
It's a different kind of offense than what teams are accustomed to facing, and they've struggled to cope with it. The Pacers have an offensive rating of 116.7 in these playoffs, which ranks second among all teams.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena.
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle deserves a lot of credit for implementing this offense and getting his players to buy into it. It would appear, though, that he got some help from a former Pacer when it came to the latter.
On the latest episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast," Zach Lowe revealed that it was Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield who got the likes of Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith to buy into this style of offense when he was in Indiana.
"The guy they give a lot of credit, not only for that, but for his partnership with Haliburton, and Haliburton really leaning into a crazy motion get off the ball offense, is a guy who's no longer on the Pacers," Lowe said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. "It's Buddy Hield. The coaches of the Pacers talk about Buddy Hield's lasting impact on Nesmith, on Haliburton, and just how they play."
The Sacramento Kings had traded Hield to the Pacers in 2022. He'd be with the franchise for two years and averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in that time.
Those are solid averages, but the Pacers would be more grateful to Hield for his impact on the likes of Haliburton and Nesmith. They made the Conference finals last year and are now just two wins away from a title. Unfortunately, Hield didn't even get to be a part of that run last year, as he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in February 2024.