Miami Heat: 3 things to watch for in Game 6 against the Boston Celtics
Will the Miami Heat have a 100 percent healthy Bam Adebayo in Game 6?
One can’t confidently say whether the Miami Heat knew walking into this season that they’d be boasting two All-Stars. Bam Adebayo’s rise from rotational player to a top-five big man in the Eastern Conference has certainly helped fuel this team throughout the playoffs.
But after suffering a wrist injury in the fourth quarter of Game 4, it’s hard to say whether Miami’s second All-Star did or didn’t miss a couple of beats in Game 5 on Friday. Adebayo finished the night with just 13 points, albeit next to eight rebounds, eight assists in 38 minutes on the floor.
Prior to that game, he was averaging: 21.5 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and 1.3 blocks. The first thing the Heat will need to assess in Game 6 is whether or not he can be 80 percent of himself on not just the offensive end, but on defense as well against the Celtics’ bigs.
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Because Miami cannot survive another game where Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter control the post, on both ends. The two centers combined for 23 points and 17 rebounds in Game 5. If it appears they’re still in control to start Game 6, the Heat have options on their bench.
The most obvious? Giving Meyers Leonard some run early on in the first half. And it has to be early on, because Leonard is going to need as much time to warm up, having played just one game for Miami in the postseason thus far. He had two assists in Game 3 against Milwaukee.
Watch how Bam Adebayo approaches the defensive end, and his shot selection early on in Game 6 on Sunday. If an adjustment needs to be made, Meyers Leonard will be ready to answer the call.