Bam

Adebayo

Adebayo showed some shooting flashes at the end of last season, and he has turned into a real threat from deep this summer. He was perfect from the floor in the first half and entered the break with 14 points and two 3-pointers. He only added one more bucket in the second half, but Adebayo was instrumental in helping Team USA move to 2-0. They’ll suit up again on Saturday against Puerto Rico.

Adebayo is viewed as a franchise cornerstone in Miami, and the Heat will pay him accordingly. Per the new league rules, teams can negotiate with their players, who will either be free agents or extension-eligible beginning the day after the conclusion of the NBA Finals. Adebayo has been one of the best defenders in the NBA and stands to be once again a safe third-round pick in standard league fantasy drafts.

For the second straight game, Adebayo hit a 3-pointer. As was the case in Game 4, it did not matter, as the Heat were eliminated from the playoffs in blowout fashion. Bam led the team in points and assists but was inefficient as a scorer. Given how shorthanded Miami was, they needed a near-perfect game from the available players to have a shot. That didn’t happen, so attention now turns to the offseason. Adebayo entered the season with a Yahoo ADP of 32.7, and while the availability was there (70 games played), the production dipped slightly. The three-time All-Star averaged one point less per game compared to the 2022-23 campaign, and Bam also experienced decreases in field goal and free throw percentages. While he finished this season ranked outside the top 50, Adebayo will remain a safe 3rd-round pick in standard league drafts in the fall.

Bam had an excellent game, but it didn’t end up being enough for the Heat to defend their home court and tie the series up. Adebayo has had an impressive series, averaging 22.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. However, without Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier, they haven’t been able to put up much of a fight, aside from their Game 2 upset win in Boston. Expect another big game from Bam in Game 5, but it probably won’t make much of a difference in this series. The Heat simply haven’t been healthy enough to truly compete against a loaded Celtics team.

Adebayo was the most productive of Miami’s five starters, reaching the 20-point mark for the third time in this series. However, he has yet to record a steal or blocked shot, which is surprising for a player accepted as one of the NBA’s best defenders, regardless of position. In three regular-season meetings between the Heat and Celtics, Adebayo averaged 1.3 steals and 1.7 blocked shots. Miami will need more than points and rebounds from its All-Star center if they’re to even the series at two games apiece on Monday.

Adebayo had a successful scoring night and led all players in points, but surprisingly didn’t record any blocks or steals in the contest despite being Miami’s defensive anchor. Whether he’ll make his presence felt moving forward remains to be seen.

Adebayo’s stat line may not be overly impressive, but the Heat did not need gaudy production from its All-Star center. He began the game guarding DeMar DeRozan and would also take on the task of defending Nikola Vucevic during Friday’s blowout victory. With Jimmy Butler (knee) sidelined and Terry Rozier’s (neck) status undetermined, Miami could be without two starters for Sunday’s Game 1 in Boston. Adebayo’s defensive assignment will bear watching in that series, as the Celtics boast multiple high-level offensive players who need to be accounted for.

Two-thirds of Miami’s starting frontcourt has been cleared to play on Tuesday, joining mainstay Jimmy Butler. With Terry Rozier (neck) trending toward sitting out Tuesday’s game, Adebayo could be asked to do more playmaking from the center position. Jovic’s role is unlikely to change much, if at all.

Based on the probable tag, Adebayo is on track to play against the Hawks on Tuesday. The Heat center has not missed a game since March 20, and that was due to a back injury. Look for Bam to again man the middle on Tuesday, with Thomas Bryant next in line if he has to sit.

Sunday was Herro’s second game back from a foot injury, and the ability to play 31 minutes was encouraging. And it was necessary, as Terry Rozier (neck) started but only logged 22 minutes. Rozier finished with four points, four assists, and two steals, a dud of a stat line for fantasy managers who needed his production on the final day of championship week. As for Herro, his value will only increase in leagues that run through Week 24, as the Heat are scheduled to play four games and still have seeding to play for. Bam Adebayo (20/12/3/0/1 with one 3-pointer) and Caleb Martin (20/3/2 with one 3-pointer) were among the other Heat players to have scored at least 20 points on Sunday.