ASK IRA: Are the expectations reasonable with Heat’s Bam Adebayo?
Is Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo being held to an unreasonable standard?
Q: I rarely see published criticisms of Bam Adebayo, and I would really love to know what you think. As the season wound down and the need for more was obvious, Bam gave nothing. I think that’s more media hype than factual. And we are season-ticket holders. So Ira, please tell us what are your thoughts on Bam? Do you really think he can take the Heat to a championship? – Brian, Miami Shores.
A: That Bam Adebayo is an alpha-level defender and a beta-level scorer who often is charged with carrying a heavier load because of the lack of availability by so many of the team’s other components. Bam’s effort is relentless and unceasing. But that doesn’t mean, like any other player, there isn’t a fatigue factor. And like any other undersized center, it makes the heavy lifting harder against the oversized challenges such as Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic. So when you ask why there isn’t more criticism, the answer is because the Heat rarely lose because of what Bam doesn’t accomplish. Yes, nights such as Wednesday against Dallas stick out. But among the reasons they stick out is because they are the exception. With others in the primary rotation, there almost is an expectation of the occasional off night.
Q: I know I would enjoy watching more competitive games during the regular season even if we don’t make the NBA Finals every year. Maybe it is time to move on. –Rich, Plantation.
A: I agree that it is difficult to take the Heat’s regular season seriously when some of the main protagonists seemingly do not. But I also know that there is no better amnesia than a deep playoff run. I doubt anyone in mid-May is going, “I wish that game in mid-January was more interesting, even if it meant not getting to this stage.” American sports culture is all about the playoffs. If it was more like the Premier League, then the regular season would be everything, because there are no playoffs. In the NBA, 20 of the 30 teams advance to some form of postseason. So how valued would you truly expect the regular season to stand?
Q: The Heat may end up with a better regular-season record than last year and yet doubts that they’ll make a deep playoff run are more pronounced than ever. Last season’s squad showed a particular resilience and an uncanny ability to return from large point deficits and beat the best teams in the league. This year they’ve largely failed to culminate comebacks with victory and any glimpse of a second gear has been absent. What hope can Heat fans lean on as we enter the postseason? – Alejandro, New York.
A: Exactly that: hope. At this stage, that’s all it can be about. And it’s not as if these two final games against the Raptors are going to change the 2023-24 regular-season narrative.