How Bam Adebayo ‘balances’ Miami’s new and improved offense

ByNBAUSA


MIAMI – Although it is The Miami Heat had a big win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, 126-108, the team would look different with the absence of its captain in the Bam Adebayo. As it is The Heat star is suffering from a toe injury that keeps him out of Saturday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, his impact on the team’s new up-tempo offense is crucial.

For many seasons in Miami, Adebayo was one of the main drivers of the team’s offense as his versatility made him a dynamic playmaker at his position. This season, he has been even more vital in leading the new offensive philosophy that has worked with the team, recording a league-leading 106.28 possessions per 48 minutes.

Also averaging 122.8 points per game, fifth in the NBA, Adebayo has been key to the new look, but with him for now, they will have to adjust. Norman Powell would tell ClutchPoints that Adebayo “balances” the offensealthough the principles are the same with him absent.

“I think it balances us out a little bit more with Bam (Adebayo) on the floor because he’s so versatile,” Powell said. “We give him the ball up top to key. He can attack, he can play for others, he can be in the corner, you can put him in different spots. When he’s out, we’re kind of in it, like a five-out, four-out, kind of offense. And it takes more body movement, ball movement, to find openings and gaps to drive.”

“But obviously, when you have a versatile big like that, you can post them up and still play out of it,” Powell continued. “You can have them in the corner, on top, especially in transition. So there’s a different feel.”

Heat’s Bam Adebayo fits the new offense “perfectly”.

Heat center/forward Bam Adebayo (13) moves the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Cripto.com Arena with the Nuggets logo in the background
Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

As Adebayo suffered a toe injury in the loss to the Denver Nuggets Last Wednesday, Friday’s starters still had Kel’el Ware at center, but Norman Powell, Pelle Larsson, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell made up the smaller lineup. Already with the team reducing the amount of pick-and-rolls this season because of the faster pace, the offense was even more free with him off the floor.

What resulted was a victory in which Miami scored 53 points in the first quarter, the most of any time in franchise history, but fell sharply to 19 in the second frame. Closing strong with a win, there will be an adjustment period with Adebayo off the floor, even though he is the head coach Erik Spoelstra he would say that the new offense has its advantages in that there aren’t many “habits” should change with him.

“There’s a lot more habits where we don’t necessarily have to change what we’re doing,” Spoelstra said. “But I think even what we’re doing, I think it just complements Bam’s versatility even more, you know. I think the things that he can do when he tackles the shutout in random situations. I think it fits his game perfectly.”

So far this season, through eight games, Adebayo is averaging 19.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 34 percent from beyond the arc. It remains to be seen when Adebayo will return to the Heat, but his next opportunity to return will be on Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.





2025-11-08 23:33:00

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