Miami Heat: Should Spoelstra embrace Adebayo-Whiteside lineups?
Should the Miami Heat enlist the help of more Whiteside-Adebayo lineups?
Through 59 games this season, the Miami Heat are only marginally better than their 2017 counterparts. This time last year, Miami was 27-32, a record which topped off at the .500 mark by season’s end.
Now 30-29, the Heat are still fighting for playoff relevance, trying to edge out the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers and others, to ensure a post-season berth.
The similarities in records over the past two seasons would suggest Miami’s remained stagnant in a changing Eastern Conference. But the reality is quite the opposite, subtracting names like Josh McRoberts, Okaro White and Derrick Williams, while incorporating pickups like Kelly Olynyk and oddly enough, Dwyane Wade.
For the most part, Miami has worked to find new combinations, resulting in a number of successful lineups. But one tandem has yet to be explored in full: Bam Adebayo and Hassan Whiteside.
Earlier this month, head coach Erik Spoelstra discussed his interest in running a lineup bolstered by the front court duo.
"“I really liked the way Hassan played, the way he came out in the game with energy,” Spoelstra said. “Bam is becoming undeniable now. But both of them are forces for us and you have to look at in a different lens going forward.”"
Despite playing the same position on paper, Whiteside and Adebayo’s skill sets, particularly on defense, are diverse. Whiteside’s taller frame is suited to interior defense, while Adebayo’s athleticism allows him to split minutes in and out of the lane.
More from All U Can Heat
- Grade the Trade: Heat grab Trae Young in shocking proposal
- NBA 2K24 Ratings: Takeaways and reactions to Miami Heat player ratings
- 4 Teams that should trade for Tyler Herro
- Miami Heat’s Nikola Jovic gives entire world reason to love him
- 1 Advantage the Heat have over every Southeast Division team
Even Whiteside and Adebayo expressed interest in playing together. After a February win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Adebayo was elated at the prospect of playing with Whiteside.
"“I feel like we try to wrestle each other for rebounds,” Adebayo said. “But I love playing with H. Two shot blockers, two athletic bigs and we both can facilitate.”"
But where are those minutes? Through nine games, lineups with Whiteside and Adebayo have only totaled 46 minutes together.
Most recently in a win over the Bucks, 10 minutes of a joint Adebayo-Whiteside lineup gave Miami a push towards victory. Combining for 27 points and 26 rebounds, the Heat ended out rebounding the Bucks by 14, limiting second chance points in the process.
With Olynyk working his way back from a shoulder injury and the Heat just one game away from falling to ninth place behind the Pistons, giving Adebayo and Whiteside minutes together could be the reset Miami needed.
Heading into the All-Star break, the Heat suffered a crushing loss to the Sixers, in part to being outrebounded 60-29. The story of the offensive glass was even worse, with Philadelphia managing 23 boards to Miami’s three.
Instead of treating Adebayo and Whiteside as counterparts, embracing lineups with the two could give the Heat a new look. With Adebayo or Whiteside off the court, Miami has its third and fourth worst defensive ratings.
Offensively, the two inspire the potential for high-low lineups, forcing defenses to collapse on two interior threats and shed some daylight on Miami’s love for shooting the 3-ball.
Paired with Dwyane Wade, who has extensive experience playing alongside towers like Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning, the potential for not one, but two lob options is devastating. Whiteside regularly expresses his love for playing with Wade, and the added veteran guidance for Adebayo is invaluable.
The New Orleans Pelicans, who the Heat recently fell to, made the bold move to play Anthony Davis with DeMarcus Cousins. Ignoring the criticism that the tandem had “too much height” for today’s league, Davis and Cousins has made the relationship work, covering for each other in and out of the paint.
Of course, if the Whiteside-Adebayo union doesn’t succeed, it can give some perspective on which of the two best fits Miami’s future.
Is it Whiteside, the defensive stalwart who can own the paint? Or is it Adebayo, whose athletic gifts provide the Heat with future flexibility?
Next: Back from All-Star break, Miami Heat lose to New Orleans Pelicans
Though they are vastly different from the Pelicans All-Stars, supercharging Miami’s lineups with the tall-ball pair of Adebayo and Whiteside can give the Heat a new outlook as they face another late season playoff push.