The Miami Heat have really had to get used to a different kind of life over their past few contests. On top of not having Bam Adebayo, out for another month or so with his thumb surgery, they haven’t had Jimmy Butler in the lineup consistently either.
As tough a guy as he is, he tried to come back in last Monday’s Memphis game and though clearly laboring through before, couldn’t continue to go after falling on the same tailbone that had been nagging him coming into that one. Still playing for another quarter or so longer, it was eventually too much for even him.
With that though, the Miami Heat have seen quite a few people step up to take on more responsibility. Kyle Lowry has certainly had to score more, flat out.
It was something you wanted to see prior to Bam and Jimmy being out, but something that’s needed with them and others off the floor. You love to see guys like Caleb Martin and Max Strus step up to have huge showings, both being huge in a Miami Heat victory over the Bucks last Wednesday.
The Miami Heat have had to adapt to life without Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, temporarily. It’s caused good reactions though and they’ll be better for it.
Instrumental as a defender in that Bucks game and the Chicago Bulls win from Saturday, even KZ Okpala has found a way to make a huge contribution. The same goes for the Miami Heat’s physically biggest player, Omer Yurtseven, who has seen his floor time swing upwards with Bam’s injury.
Not to be outdone by their younger teammates though, Dewayne Dedmon and P.J. Tucker have also increased their output in a major way. They were two of the best players on the floor in Saturday’s win over Chicago and the best big men that played in that game— period.
Overall, the point is this. The Miami Heat have found themselves having to adapt more than ever without their top two guys in the fold.
While it hasn’t always been pretty, they have found a way to succeed in spite of those factors.
Because it has pulled some things out of guys that they may have not known they had to give and because it has shown those same guys that they can succeed in the biggest moments or spots, as well, it should be colossal for the Heat moving forward.
The more guys that can produce for your team in high leverage moments, the better. The Miami Heat are further developing more of those types of guys right now without Bam and Jimmy, which is why this sudden need for adaptability should be nothing but good for them in the long run.