Traveling to Atlanta this Sunday night, once again without Jimmy Butler, the Heat had to find a way to bring down a strong Atlanta team at home. The Miami collective was able to raise the tone in the 2nd half, all behind a sparkling Bam Adebayo on both sides of the field: 106-98 victory for Florida.
What if he was the Heat’s best player this season?
Jimmy Butler remains the boss of Miami, from morning to night, but it is clear that – as Erik Spoelstra has publicly recalled – Adebayo is the player on whom the Heat can count most on these first six weeks of competition. And after having massacred the racket of Washington this weekend, it is that of Atlanta which Bam took care of with malicious pleasure. That being said, let’s not reduce this Sunday’s performance to just one man, because it was a collective that was able to win to further frustrate the Hawks and their fans. Yet hot and focused in the first period, Trae Young’s friends were unable to find the solution when leaving the locker room against the higher intensity developed by the Heat.
Because yes, it was 2 Heat teams that showed up in Atlanta this Sunday. We are not kidding.
The contrast was striking, between the first and the second period: 60 points conceded before half-time, 38 after. The release of the barbed wire was official, with Bam obviously in the lot, but also the other colleagues responsible for pissing off the Atlanta lineups until the final buzzer. Caleb Martin in all the good moves, Tyler Herro in triple-double, Kyle Lowry all in wisdom and vice, even Dewayne Dedmon and Dru Smith were able to contribute to this huge turnaround, knowing that the Heat started this meeting very difficult. So there was a feeling of collective achievement, of sudden team regroupment, when the final score indicated a victory for Miami.
But how not to talk about the man of the evening?
Bam Adebayo’s last 7 games:
25,3 points
10.9 rebounds
2,7 passes
54% shooting
86% in throws
Usual Goof Defense— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) November 28, 2022
And how can we not talk about this five-star Bam Adebayo, who is taking on a huge dimension in the Heat game? Often singled out for his lack of aggressiveness in attack, this sometimes heartbreaking laziness given his great talent, the pivot experienced a kind of click that pushed him to destroy his opponents. And 30 against Phoenix, and 38 against Washington, and 32 against Atlantathe creepy, offensively committed version of Adebayo has been actively at the right time since Jimmy Butler is absent.
But the stat that probably makes Erik Spoelstra, his staff and Wade County fans smile the most?
2 out of 7.
Bam Adebayo has attempted less than 18 shots in just 2 of the last 7 games. He systematically hit in areas that were almost unknown to him, with more than 18 shots attempted including 20 and 22 precisely in these last two meetings. And who says attempt says throws, because the opposing defense is under pressure. Suffice to say that Spo and his band will be delighted to remind Bam that he must remain collective, even with the return of Jimmy Buckets. Because when he plays like this, dominating defensively, aerial in attack and full of touch in the racket, it is an undeniable All-Star that we see before our eyes.
Bam Adebayo is exceptional at the moment, and the Heat really need it given the difficulties of this start to the season. Hoping that the pivot will take a good rest until Wednesday evening because he will need it: Miami goes to Boston, for a rematch of the last conference final. Unmissable, at all levels.