What’s the adjustment Bam Adebayo needs to make against sagging defense? ‘Shoot the ball.’
When opponents play off of Heat center Bam Adebayo, he knows the adjustment he needs to make.
“Shoot the ball,” Adebayo said simply in advance of Wednesday’s road matchup against the Celtics that marked the end of the Heat’s three-game trip.
But it hasn’t been that simple for Adebayo, who is still learning how to find the right balance between being one of the Heat’s primary facilitators while also making sure he’s keeping defenses honest by taking his own shots.
Adebayo, 22, has done so many things well to start his third NBA season, entering Wednesday with averages of 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks. Adebayo is one of only three players averaging at least 14 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block this season. The other names on that list: reigning MVP and Bucks All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Timberwolves All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns.
But opposing defenses have found a way to somewhat slow down Adebayo’s playmaking ability recently by sagging off of him every time he touches the ball outside of the paint.
The 76ers were the first team to use that coverage on Adebayo for pretty much the entire game in a Nov. 23 blowout win over the Heat, and he finished with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, five rebounds and zero assists. The Nets became the second team to use that strategy on Adebayo, and he finished with 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting, 16 rebounds and one assist in Sunday’s Heat victory.
On the surface, those numbers are solid. But a deeper look reveals that Adebayo has totaled one assist and seven turnovers in those two games, as that type of sagging coverage dares him to shoot and clogs the paint to disrupt the Heat’s cutters.
The Heat shot a combined 39.4 percent and recorded 28 assists to 27 turnovers in those two games.
“I just become the playmaker,” Adebayo said when asked how that type of defense changes his offensive role. “I just got to shoot the ball. My teammates want me to shoot the ball. It’s as simple as that, really.”
Taking on that aggressive mind-set is a learning process for Adebayo, who entered Wednesday ranked fourth among centers in assists with 4.1 per game. But Adebayo knows shooting the open jumper or taking advantage of the cushion by using one or two dribbles to get into the paint are two clear ways to solve this coverage.
“Once you start making the shot, then they’ll start playing you,” Adebayo said. “That’s when the assists open up.”
Adebayo entered Wednesday 6 of 24 on shots outside of the paint and 5 of 18 on midrange jumpers this season.
“I think it will go in,” Adebayo said of his outside shot. “I got faith in myself like my teammates do. So I just get in the flow of the game sometimes and I don’t look at the rim, and that’s on me.”
Among the teammates who have pushed Adebayo to be more aggressive offensively is veteran forward Udonis Haslem.
“I just want him to be the best complete basketball player he can be,” Haslem said. “Shooting, continue playmaking, rebounding, defending all five positions. I want him to be all that. I’m definitely constantly in his ear about being aggressive offensively within the offense, making sure he looks at the basket and at least just gives the illusion of being a threat offensively before he goes to his dribble handoffs.”
Coach Erik Spoelstra is confident Adebayo will find a way to solve this sagging coverage before the end of the season.
“We’ll make adjustments with that. That also gives us an opportunity to create openings for other people,” Spoelstra said. “He’s becoming more offensive-minded, regardless. I think he’s going to get a lot better against that coverage. Everything that people have thrown at him, he has gotten better at. So what you’re seeing right now, at the end of December, I think he’ll look a lot different each month as the season goes on.”
In or out?
Heat center Kelly Olynyk reiterated Tuesday that he wants to again play for Canada this summer in international competition. Canada will play in an Olympic qualifying tournament in late June.
But Olynyk said his contract status could prevent him from representing his country, with Olynyk holding a $13.2 million player option for 2020-21 (the final season of his contract). This comes after Olynyk bruised a bone on his right knee while playing for Canada in August, forcing him to miss training camp and the Heat’s first three preseason games.
“Often the reason why guys can’t play is because they don’t have a contract,” Olynyk said. “It’s a lot to risk, especially with me playing last year and getting hurt and missing training camp and preseason, basically, and just trying to get back to 100 percent, still.
“If I’m able to and my contract and stuff has settled out and I’m feeling healthy, then there’s no reason why I won’t be there.”
▪ There have been two changes to the Heat’s schedule.
The Dec. 13 home game against LeBron James and the Lakers has been moved from 8 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN. Also, the Heat’s Dec. 18 road game against the 76ers has been moved from 7:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will also be televised by ESPN.
This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 12:24 PM.
