Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton was never overrated, and he showed the Cavs what's up in Game 1

Tyrese Haliburton was never overrated.

At this point, who cares what anonymous NBA players said in a recent survey by The Athletic? That poll aged wonderfully as runner-up Rudy Gobert immediately put up a Shaq-like 27-24 to beat the Lakers.

And then there's Haliburton, who got 14 percent of the vote as the NBA's most overrated player. LOL.

Haliburton is one of the best players on the planet. He's properly rated.

On Sunday, he proved it with a masterpiece in a Game 1 upset of the top-seed Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Haliburton finished with 22 points (9-15 FG, 2-6 3FG, 2-2 FT), 13 assists and just one turnover.

Hali even blocked three shots.

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The Pacers went into the loud road environment and won, 121-112.

"We had a funky end to the year," Haliburton said on TNT after the game. "We had to figure out how to win in many different ways. And that's what the playoffs are about."

Naturally, the point guard deflected credit after the win.

But the Pacers' main way to win revolves around him. The other contributors vary, but Indiana needs Haliburton.

He remains one of the better NBA trade acquisitions in recent memory from when the Pacers sent Domantas Sabonis out to bring in Haliburton.

He led Indiana to the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, and it clearly wasn't a fluke.

The Pacers might be underrated. Haliburton is just showing he deserves to be considered among the best. And if they keep this up, Indiana's ceiling is sky high.

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