Love is in the air — and so are playoff ambitions. What Tyrese Haliburton is building in Indiana isn’t just about this season. It’s about setting a standard. This year isn’t about sneaking into the playoffs. It’s about shaking the table. About proving that the Pacers aren’t just a feel-good story — they’re for real. And Haliburton’s leading that charge. But before we go on the deep end, there is a real sweet moment we’ve got to show some love.
Haliburton’s six-year anniversary post with longtime girlfriend Jade Jones had NBA Twitter melting. “6 years, countless memories, and a lifetime to go… I got you forever.”
Jade and Tyrese have been side-by-side since their Iowa State days. From college gyms to NBA tunnels, she’s seen the journey unfold up close. And now, with the Pacers in the postseason spotlight, the symmetry is striking: the same guy writing love letters off the court is making legacy plays on it.
And his ultimate goal? The same as everyone stepping on the NBA hardwood: “When I say something special, I mean a championship.” Last year?
The Pacers were just happy to be in the postseason. This year? That’s not enough. “I think even last year we were just satisfied with being in the playoffs,” Haliburton admitted. “Everything from there was kinda playing with house money… This year, I think we have real expectations to do something special as a group.”
Those expectations aren’t just talk. The Pacers finished 50-32 — their best season in years — and locked in the 4th seed in the East. Since the All-Star break, they’ve ranked top-10 in net rating. And the engine behind it all? Tyrese Haliburton.
Averaging 20.6 points and 11 assists on 53.3% shooting since the break, Haliburton is becoming one of the most impactful floor generals in the league. And when he scores 20+? Indiana is 25-3. That’s not just impressive — that’s elite.
Now, with the Bucks up first, it’s a battle of styles:
Milwaukee plays through stars. Isolation. Half-court matchups.
Indiana lives in the fast lane. Tempo. Movement. Transition threes.
The team that controls the pace controls the series. And nobody dictates tempo like Haliburton. But he’ll need to do more than orchestrate — he’ll need to dominate. Not just when the game is flowing, but when it slows down. There is one concern fans can’t ignore: Haliburton’s second-half production.
In last year’s playoffs, he averaged just 6 points after halftime. Post-injury this season, while the numbers look fine, the eye test says otherwise. The same first step? Not quite. That pull-up three? More hesitation. The big moments? Still waiting.
Jade Jones Is Waiting on a Ring, and So Is Indiana
Playoff games tighten. Defenses adapt. Halfcourt execution becomes survival. And for Haliburton to take that superstar leap, he needs to be the guy with the ball — and the guts — when it matters most.
“Tyrese is doing a terrific job. He’s running the team, he’s keeping his wits about him, he doesn’t have all of his tools around him, but he’s making the best of it and we’ve just gotta stay in the fight,” Coach Rick Carlisle said earlier this season.
However, Milwaukee will test everything. The Bucks still feature Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez — two elite rim protectors who collapse the paint and challenge ball movement. Giannis, especially, will be a nightmare in transition defense and help-side rotations. His ability to cover ground and disrupt passing lanes could force Haliburton into uncomfortable decisions.
Therefore, for Haliburton, the assignment is clear: stay aggressive. The shots will be tough, but they have to be taken. He needs to shoot confidently, read traps faster, and own the pace like it’s his name on the series. And then there’s the other side of the ball.
Defensively, Haliburton has never been elite. Teams will hunt him. Can he hold up? Can he switch smartly, contest without fouling, and stay alert off-ball? That’s what Milwaukee will probe — and what Haliburton must answer. The playoffs aren’t just about talent. They’re about resilience. Making the right call under fire, every possession.
May 6, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) is fouled by Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) in front of Pacers center Myles Turner (33) and guards Tyrese Haliburton (0) and Andrew Nembhard (2) during the fourth quarter of game one of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Luckily, Tyrese Haliburton isn’t doing this alone. Pascal Siakam has a ring. He’s been through seven-game wars with Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors. His presence stabilizes the offense when Haliburton sits — or when the pressure boils over. Moreover, the Pacers have depth — Siakam, Turner, and Nembhard — but they don’t have a closer unless Haliburton steps into that role. Not a passer. A finisher.
He’s made promises this week — one to Jade, and one to a state hungry for relevance. To Jade, he said, “forever.” To Indiana? Maybe not forever — but definitely until there’s a banner hanging in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The post Tyrese Haliburton’s Girlfriend Isn’t the Only One Receiving Heartfelt Promises as Pacers Star Sets Playoffs Goal Straight appeared first on EssentiallySports.
