Bam Adebayo’s versatility will only add to the Miami Heat’s fourth quarter dilemmas.
Hassan Whiteside once argued against the Miami Heat conforming to opponents playing small-ball. And to a certain extent, he was right.
Unfortunately, he will not like the extent.
Saturday night saw the Heat use Whiteside to end a game for the first time in what seemed like ages. What was even more surprising was the fact that it came against the Charlotte Hornets’ little lineup.
The reason being, he was able to guard a player in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who cannot stretch the floor with a jump shot–let alone be a threat from beyond the arc (a career 18.4 percent shooter) with the 3-ball.
Ideally, a poor shooter of that magnitude is unlikely to be in many fourth quarter lineups. In the instances where they are not, Miami’s best small-ball counter would feature Bam Adebayo.
On the offensive side, there would be a drop off in the ability to feed the paint for a post score, seeing as Whiteside shoots 75 percent from less than five feet, compared to Adebayo’s 57.1. However, rim runs and alley oops would work about the same, to compliment their 2.4 point per game difference.
And what the Heat lose in rebounding with Adebayo on the floor, they would gain in his willingness to pass the ball after it touches his hands.
With all of that said, Adebayo’s biggest endorsement for closing games comes on the defensive end.
The blocked shots are there, but so is his ability to move his feet, which results in him not being afraid to step out and guard anyone from a stretch-5, to point guards and wings. Now this might not work against a Marc Gasol or Joel Embiid at the moment, but everyone has seen video of his one-time success against Steph Curry.
It probably helps that Adebayo is already an undersized, athletic center, built more like a power forward. So, the premise of him as the small-ball big makes the most sense when the Heat need to downsize, yet keep a defensive presence who can also protect the rim.
All the more reason to have Adebayo on the court when the fourth quarter minutes begin to crunch.
No slight to Kelly Olynyk or Whiteside though, of course.