Los Angeles Lakers gear up to face Indiana Pacers' point guard Tyrese Haliburton in the NBA's inaugural in-season tournament final, with coach Darvin Ham praising Haliburton's athletic ability, incredible vision, and constant attack mode.

Why It Matters

The Lakers must strategize to contend with Haliburton's exceptional skills to secure victory in the tournament final, acknowledging the impact of his performance in leading the Pacers to sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

By the Numbers
  • Haliburton totaled 27 points, 15 assists, and 0 turnovers in the semifinal win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
  • Haliburton leads the NBA in assists per game and is averaging 26.9 points per game on 52.5% shooting from the field and 44.1% from 3-point range.
State of Play
  • Indiana Pacers lead the NBA in scoring with 128.4 points per game.
  • The Lakers rank 25th in opponents' fastbreak points allowed, while Indiana ranks second in fastbreak points scored per game at 17.2.
What's Next

The Lakers and Pacers are set to face each other in the championship game, necessitating strategic planning to counter Haliburton's impact and enforce their own game plan.

Bottom Line

The Lakers face a significant challenge in the form of Haliburton's unmatched performance and must develop a winning strategy to secure victory in the tournament final.