Giving Haliburton and Zubac Time

I keep thinking about those playoff nights after we put Miss Mango to bed. My dad and I would stay up watching another wild finish. Those are moments we’ll always remember.

Watching those runs brought us closer. That’s part of why I’m excited about this season, and why I’m willing to give this group some time.

I’m especially curious about Haliburton and Zubac. When Haliburton returns, I want to give him room to find his confidence and see how his game evolves. I also want to see what the two of them develop together. I expect some uneven nights before we have a good sense of what that connection can become.

The screening and finishing are where my attention goes first. I’m hoping Zubac can create an opening for Haliburton, and that Haliburton can find ways to get Zubac better scoring opportunities. His rebounding interests me too, both keeping a possession alive and finishing one on defense.

A good screen, pass and finish would get me excited. Over time, I’d like to see what they find when that first opening closes. Can they change the angle, give the play another moment or find someone else?

When I think ahead to a tight playoff game, I want Indiana to have several things it can turn to. An option inside when the outside shots aren’t falling. Another opening from a screen. A rebound that gives them one more chance. I’m hoping Zubac’s fit can help them find more ways through those moments.

If some of that comes with a slower pace, I’d be open to it. That’s a possibility I’m considering, rather than something I’ve seen from this group. I loved the way those Pacers teams played, and I’d welcome a different approach if it helps this team win.

I expect a slow start. An awkward possession early on could be part of two players figuring each other out. I’m more interested in whether those exchanges become more comfortable as they spend time together, and whether they’re developing options they can trust as the playoffs approach.

I’d love for my dad and me to have more of those playoff moments together. Miss Mango is saying “basketball” now, and I hope she’ll get to share that excitement with us as she grows up.

For now, I’m excited to see what Haliburton and Zubac can build together. I’m willing to let it take some time.