The Miami Heat have gotten some pretty good showings out of a few guys this year. While many will exclaim that it hasn’t been enough, far and few between, and with them lacking overall consistency as a unit, which has a bit of truth to it, the fact still remains to be true.
While Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler are the usual suspects, guys like Kyle Lowry and Victor Oladipo have even splashed at times for the Miami Heat. But among them all, only perhaps Butler has been better than Bam Adebayo.
Averaging 21.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and right at three asssists per contest, Bam has increased his scoring average by 2.5 points per game so far this season. And on the way to doing that, he’s being as effectively aggressive as he has ever been.
Once you add that into the mix with his usually stellar defensive abiliyt, typically NBA Defensive Player Of The Year level stuff, there is no doubt that he has been an All-Star caliber player this season.
Right?
Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo All-Star Game Campaign Safe In Hands Of Coaches?
Wrong. All Wrong—well, thus far, but we’ll get there.
As known by now though Adebayo was not voted as such by the fans, but that’s ok. The fact of the matter is that the Miami Heat’s big man knows that he “should be in Salt Lake”, which is great for his demeanor and confidence moving forward.
"I should be in Salt Lake" 👀@Bam1of1 talking that talk after the comeback win pic.twitter.com/ZAXtEfIqY0
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 25, 2023
For a guy that has consitently been asked to be more aggressive over the past few years, it’s good to see that this particular aspect is continuing to grow within him. So, again, it’s good that he knows but even more importantly at this moment, for the hopes of his All-Star campaign this season, the NBA Coaches should know it too.
With them being left with the task of choosing the 14 remaining reserves, the coaches around the NBA shouldn’t have any qualms or battles about selecting Adebayo as one of those guys.
And here’s why.
The Miami Heat Big Man Should Hear His Name Called On February 2nd
With his ability to be the miami Heat’s offensive focal point and centerpiece on certain nights this season, while he brings it on that side every single night regardless, the defensive stuff goes without saying.
He has been among the very best defenders in the entire NBA for the last three seasons, minimally, at this point. And this is why he should be in Salt Lake—as deemed by the coaches.
He is a dominant two-way guy this season and doesn’t do it the way that big men traditionally do it. He isn’t a weakside guy like most premiere defensive big men.
He can block shots, but he excels at all phases of defense, as illustrated by the heavily publicized fact that he guards every single position on the opposing team in a given night. He’s truly the real deal.
NBA coaches are supposed to be the ones that really know what’s going on and based on all that you’ve ever publicly seen from most of them, they do, and beyond the cutesy boxscore stuff that most of the “voting” fans pay the most attention to.
And with all of the aforementioned being the case, that ‘s why his All-Star campaign should be safe, as there is no world where they shouldn’t see him as one of the 14 remaining best players not selected.