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Miami Heat: Projections and Comparisons for Justise, J-Rich, and BAM!

By Kenneth Wilson

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Bam Adebayo, Dwyane Wade, Josh Richardson and Justise Winslow of the Miami Heat pose before a game against the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Arena on February 27, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Bam Adebayo, Dwyane Wade, Josh Richardson and Justise Winslow of the Miami Heat pose before a game against the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Arena on February 27, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images) /
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Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo is an athletic freak. It isn’t just his muscular physique or his bouncy vertical jump either, but it is present in the way he moves around the court.

Although it isn’t quite guard-like when talking about the fluidity with which he seems to ease around the court, it’s definitely something out of the ordinary when talking about a human as big and muscular as he is.

Bam’s game has taken a step this season as well. Where he was mainly a “finish the lob” or “finish the near-basket dish” guy prior to this season, he seems to now be more comfortable in various places on the court.

He looks very comfortable in not only attempting to create offense for himself and those around him, but he also looks more confident when he isn’t right at the basket, as he looked out of sorts at times in these positions prior to this season. These, along with a few more facets are important when considering projections for Adebayo.

Ceiling – a more defensively active Amar’e Stoudemire

Floor – a more offensively gifted/physically imposing Stromile Swift

Amar’e Stoudemire was once a superstar in this league. When he and Steve Nash were on the break or even in the pick and roll, you could almost feel the terror in whoever was left standing to defend the basket. Adebayo has a similar thing about him.

Back to his ease and fluidity of movement, this gracefulness was also something very apparent in Stoudemire.

With Stoudemire at his best, you could also almost count on the fact that whatever acrobatic escapade he had just accomplished with beautiful movement and footwork, would result in one of the most dastardly powerful finishes you had ever seen.

Stoudemire didn’t have the instincts defensively that Adebayo seems to posses though, but one Stromile swift did.

Although Stoudemire and Swift are worlds apart when it comes to how they played the game, the best parts about their individual games are all present in Adebayo. Is he quite the all-around offensive player that Stoudemire was yet? No, but the tools and desire to work hard are all apparently there, as indicated by his improvement thus far.

Swift was always thinly built, which is something Bam won’t ever have to concern himself with, but his ability to block and change shots is what set him apart and probably kept him around as long as it did. These are the reasons why Bam projects to either of these, no matter the direction you take them.

Next. 30 greatest players in franchise history. dark

Regardless of if you agree with the exact player comparisons or not, you can’t deny the traits described and attributed to all three sets. Who knows what it means for the future of the Miami Heat though? No one really does, but knowing that these are the skill sets, attitudes, and traits of those whose hands this fate is in, it has to make you feel a little better about it already.

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