Rick Carlisle Should Start TJ McConnell in Game 6 of the NBA Finals

All the Marbles

The Pacers are making NBA news and are in the NBA Finals, which is shocking enough, but the best chance they have of pulling off the unthinkable is sitting on their bench, and his name is T.J. McConnell. Look, we both know how this one is going to end.

Indiana is plying their trade in the heartland of America, a good team that can catch a great team when it’s not firing on all cylinders. But the Thunder are loaded, and their 3-2 lead is more emblematic of disinterest than Indiana’s superstar edition wearing them down and beating the brakes off them.

T.J. MCCONNELL IS UNSTOPPABLE IN THE THIRD 🤯

He’s up to 13 PTS in the quarter and 18 on the night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TQVnHLsGjV

— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 17, 2025

The Pacers had not lost two consecutive games in the postseason until Game 5 on Monday night, when they dropped a 120-109 decision to OKC. They were down by 14 at the half, and Haliburton was in the throes of a dreadful performance. Meanwhile, McConnell was on fire, connecting on 8 of his 14 shots in 22 minutes, while Tyrese Haliburton’s stats showed he was 0 for 6 from the floor in 34 minutes.

But who played down the stretch? You get a cookie if you answered Haliburton, while McConnell looked on from the sidelines. By the time McConnell got to take off his sweatsuit in the fourth quarter, the game was all but over.

Look, I get it. Haliburton was a first-round pick, has been an NBA All-Star twice in his five-year career, and is four inches taller than the 33-year-old undrafted guard. You can even make a case that he’s better looking.

But right now, when the Pacers have nothing to lose, and despite NBA rumors to the contrary, Rick Carlisle is going to play it safe, protect his job, and watch Tyrese grimace with every rebound and slog up the floor as he gets back on defense. And, by the way, we’re not talking about an elite NBA player here. No, he’s better than most but a click or two below those who occupy the rarified air of NBA superstardom.

T.J. DID IT AGAIN!!!

HIS 5th STEAL AND THE BUCKET TO TIE IT 🤯

Thunder (1-1) Pacers going down to the wire on ABC 👀 pic.twitter.com/Z8RXXqmLjI

— NBA (@NBA) June 12, 2025

But on this edition of the Indiana Pacers, Kobe and MJ all rolled into one 6’5” package, even if he’s not their equal on his best day. This is not the Knicks vs. Pacers series, and now he’s hurt, which means the hungry, gritty McConnell is the best choice to give the Pacers a chance at making history.

Ty Will Play

There isn’t a chance in the world Haliburton will sit Game 6 out. Talking about game 6, BetUS sportsbook has the Thunder as betting favorites (-250), but the Pacers love being underdogs. Haliburton is in it to win it, even if his calf injury will do more harm than good. And that’s exactly the attitude every professional athlete should have when a championship is on the line.

When asked about his availability for Game 6, Haliburton said, “It’s the Finals, man. I’ve worked my whole life to be here, and I want to be out there to compete. Help my teammates any way I can.”

Love it. It’s what you want to hear if you’re a coach, but shouldn’t all of Carlisle’s energies be focused on winning the damn game? When asked about his poor performance in Game 5, Haliburton again came up with this rhetorical gem.

“I was not great tonight by any means, but it’s not really a thought of mine to not play [in Game 6],” Haliburton said. “If I can walk, then I want to play. They understand that. And it is what it is. Got to be ready to go for Game 6.”

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is believed to have suffered a strained right calf and will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the strain, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/4FTIoB1RVU

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 17, 2025

When Carlisle was asked about Haliburton’s ailing calf, he said, “He’s not a hundred percent. It’s pretty clear. But I don’t think he’s going to miss the next game. We were concerned at halftime, and he insisted on playing. I thought he made a lot of really good things happen in the second half. But he’s not a hundred percent.”

No, he’s not, Rick, which means you believe a compromised Haliburton is better than anything you’ve got on the bench, including T.J. McConnell. And that decision is going to be the end of any chance the Pacers have of winning on Thursday night.