The Miami Heat are a team in need of something right now but it may already be there.
The Miami Heat have gotten off to a rather imbalanced start and while they have knocked off two pretty good teams thus far in the New Orleans Pelicans and the Milwaukee Bucks, they’ve also lost to the Bucks, the Magic, and the Dallas Mavericks.
While it seems that they could stand to add somethings else or unlock something else, be that a new addition to the team somehow or a bigger role for someone already on the roster who doesn’t get as much playing time at the moment, there seems to be room for immediate tinkering. While both of the aforementioned options are things that could be explored, there is a third option.
How about taking a guy that already has a prominent role and asking him to do more? That’s exactly where Bam Adebayo comes into this equation.
A guy capable of a ton and already seemingly in the middle of everything the Miami Heat do, the eyes want to agree but they just can’t quite do so. Then you look at the numbers and they say the same thing.
The Miami Heat need a spark and more Bam Adebayo offense could be just the thing to ignite them.
Usage Rates take into account how much a player is used in any play at any given time while they are on the floor. When you look at Miami Heat, the numbers are a bit shocking but then again aren’t once you think about them.
According to ESPN, the Heat have one guy in the entire top 30 of the Usage Rate statistic and that guy is ranked number 30, Goran Dragic. The next Miami Heat guy, though Bam Adebayo, doesn’t come in until the number 67th or 68th place, a tie between him and Orlando Magic rookie, Cole Anthony.
This number doesn’t reflect a ton on efficiency, but in order to be efficient or even productive in the first place, you have to have the opportunity or usage. With that same thinking, why not give your best player right now the maximum amount of opportunity that can be afforded you do him?
You also take into account that the number tends to favor those more who shoot the ball, rather than those who do things like make the assist to the person who shoots the ball, where Bam creates a ton for the Heat. Though the player making the play or pass is heavily involved in the play as well, I guess I am basically saying create more looks and shots for Bam.
It only makes sense. With the Miami Heat in somewhat of a rut to start the year, with Bam blossoming before our very eyes, and with Jimmy struggling to get his feet up under him as of now, this seems like the right thing to do at the moment.
The Miami Heat need a little something right now and more Bam Adebayo could just be it. Let’s see how they approach things over the next week in a tricky trio of contests.