Fever must correct this Caitlin Clark mistake the Pacers avoided with Haliburton

As the Indiana Fever search for the optimal path toward contending with Caitlin Clark, the indiana Pacers have provided the perfect example with their prioritization of Tyrese Haliburton as a playmaker rather than a scorer.

Haliburton is in the midst of one of the most remarkable runs in NBA history. He has the Pacers competing for a championship, due in no small part to his generationally clutch performances, including four shots made during the closing seconds of a one-possession game.

It's been a testament to Haliburton's underrated scoring ability and unflappable poise that he's buried what's equated to a game-tying or game-winning shot in all four rounds of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.

The reason Haliburton's scoring has become an underrated strength, however, is that it isn't his primary method of contributing to Indiana's success. He's the proverbial pass-first point guard, using his elite court vision and otherworldly accuracy as a passer to pace the team along.

Haliburton finished the 2024-25 regular season ranked second in the NBA in passes made per game, and third in the Association in assists, potential assists, and assist points created.

The result of Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle utilizing Haliburton in this capacity has been a well-oiled machine operating around one of the best playmakers in the NBA. His scoring still proves invaluable, but he averaged just 13.8 field goal attempts per game in the regular season and checks in at 14.5 in the playoffs.

As the Fever prepare for Clark's highly-anticipated return from a quad injury, they should keep this approach in mind in regard to how they plan to use the WNBA's assists leader.

Pacers have provided Fever with blueprint for maximizing Caitlin Clark

Clark is one of the most productive players in the WNBA. On a per-game basis, she finished her rookie season ranked No. 1 in assists and three-point field goals made, No. 7 in points, No. 15 in steals, and No. 18 in rebounds.

Clark has unfortunately missed time due to injury in 2025, but she's otherwise picked up where she left off, averaging 19.0 points, 9.3 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 1.0 block, and 2.8 three-point field goals made per game.

For as impressive as those numbers are, Clark carries a disproportionately heavy burden in Indiana. She's not only the Fever's leader in both points and field goal assists per game, but she's also trusted to run the offense as the primary playmaker.

Despite being in just her second WNBA season, Clark is already being asked to run every facet of her team's offense—and there's a fair case to be made that it's limiting the team's overall quality.

Rather than placing such a heavy burden on their franchise player, the Fever should emphasize their depth and allow Clark to take on a more balanced role. Indiana has a deep cast of capable scorers, including DeWanna Bonner, Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard, and Kelsey Mitchell.

Sharpshooter Sophie Cunningham and playmaker Aari McDonald round out a team that has enough depth to not only supplement Clark's talent, but help simplify the game for her.

By carrying less of a nightly burden, Clark would be able to pick her spots as she continues to adjust to the pace and physicality of the WNBA game. It would also permit a more natural transition to the professional ranks, as well as a likely increase in efficiency, a decrease in turnovers, and an even greater level of proficiency late in games.

It may not be the most conventional approach to utilizing one of the most dynamic scorers in the sport, but allowing Clark to pick her spots like Haliburton would instantly elevate the Fever.