The Miami Heat have successfully begun their latest bid for an NBA Championship by getting off to a thunderous start to their 2022 NBA Playoff campaign. After obliterating the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of their opening-round series, we all witnessed Jimmy Butler put on a historic performance in Game 2.
Going for 45 points, five rebounds, and five assists without committing a foul or turnover, he would join elite company in the achievement.
Though neither of them were flawless, no fouls or giveaways like him, he joined the likes of the Miami Heat’s greatest player in franchise history, Dwyane Wade, and possibly the best basketball ever, LeBron James, in the accomplishment.
Even among all of the Jimmy Butler fireworks though, there is one guy who hasn’t quite shown up like he typically does on the offensive end (well, two if you include Tyler Herro, but allow us time to get there).
Bam Adebayo has had rough offensive games to open the playoffs but we are here to tell you—don’t worry about him, he’ll be just fine.
Miami Heat Playoffs: Don’t Worry Because Bam Adebayo Is Just Fine
With Bam averaging only 7.5 points, five rebounds, and four assists across his first two playoff games this postseason, you love the assists, but the other numbers might scare you if you only look at the box score. Fair, as they are a bit off from his season averages of 19.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, though he has increased his assists from 3.4 per contest.
However, it’s deeper than just the numbers with Bam. As believed here, stats without context are meaningless.
You have to first consider that the man did miss the previous week or so training, prior to the playoffs, with a Health And Safety Protocols related absence. While the rest of the team was working (and yucking it up) in the Bahamas, Adebayo was getting over that scenario.
When it comes to a repetition sport like basketball and especially at the highest of levels like the NBA, it’s all about continuity, consistency, and those reps.
Plainly, Adebayo wasn’t getting any with the rest of his team, consequently, causing him to not be as sharp in his first two playoff games.
Miami Heat Playoffs: Bam Adebayo’s Been Elite On The Most Important Side
That’s also just it though. It isn’t an aggression thing, a want to thing, or a purposefulness thing, as it has been for quite a bit of his career prior to this season.
He is being deliberate. He is being intentional.
He is working. He is taking his opportunities.
He’s being aggressive. It’s just that the crispness isn’t there that he normally has.
You know this for a few reasons, one being if you actually have watched the games, but you can also see it on the side of the ball that isn’t so much about skill and nuance. Bam Adebayo has still been elite, for the most part, on defense.
That’s the side of the ball more rooted in hard work, intensity, and instinct. Those are also things that don’t require repetition to be your best at.
So, there’s a reason why the all-timers shoot 1000 jump shots a day. There is a reason why a lot of the best players live in a gym.
It’s because those reps, that consistency, that day in and day out work is necessary to be their best selves. Bam Adebayo is no different and especially when it comes to the things that aren’t associated with his natural gifts, athleticism and the ability to outwork most dudes.
That’s all defensive stuff. But also why you shouldn’t worry, because as the other stuff comes back to form, he’s still the same defensive menace that he always is.
Again, don’t worry about Bam, he’ll be just fine.