Miami Heat: 13 player grades for the first half of the regular season

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MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 10: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat reacts against the Boston Celtics during the second half at American Airlines Arena on January 10, 2019 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

B. . C. Miami Heat. BAM ADEBAYO

The Miami Heat’s 2nd year center Bam Adebayo is looking to turn some heads as we past the midseason point, hoping to continue his dominance off the bench.

While many fans and Heat analysts have big goals for Bam, he is still only 21-years-old, and there are whispers via NBA Twitter that feel the big man may have a higher ceiling than Richardson and Winslow. And while I don’t necessarily agree with that, you can already see some of Adebayo’s improvements as a center this season.

Bam is averaging 8.0 PPG, 6.9 TRB, and 2.1 ASTS to top off a solid stat line in only 21.8 MPG. And as a starter in 6 games this season, he’s averaging 12.2 PPG, 8.5 TRB, 2.6 ASTS, and 3.0 (blocks and steals) with a field goal percentage of 58.6.

The potential is there for the big man to overthrow the $25 million man in Hassan Whiteside, and it may even be in Miami’s favor to play Adebayo more minutes than Whiteside moving forward. But, if Miami truly wants Bam to improve as a big man in today’s NBA, then the solution is simple.

Help Bam Adebayo create a 3-point shot.

While he can easily bully his way through defenders down-low, as well as create great lanes off pick-and-rolls, or even facilitating when he needs to, Adebayo will need to develop a mid-range/3-point shot in the near future to become a center for the next decade in the NBA. But for now, watch out for Spo raising Bam’s minutes in the coming weeks, as the Heat need to play their best guys out on the floor to secure a playoff spot.

Our next player has his own island, and we are not exactly sure how to feel about it.

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