Bam Adebayo hasn't had the best start for the Miami Heat in preseason, and while it may be entirely too early to panic over it, it's certainly worth keeping a close eye on. Considering how good the Heat will need Bam to be this season if they have any hope of emerging as a real player in the Eastern Conference this season, this is not necessarily the start from him that they hoped for.
In their 103-93 loss over the Milwaukee Bucks in their second preseason game, Bam didn't do much to settle Heat fans' nerves.
Breaking down the more concerning observations from the Heat's second preseason game, we explore some cruel realities the Heat may have to face about Bam.
Bam Adebayo might already feel the pressure
Maybe it's just Bam shaking off some offseason rust, but it does feel awfully like he may already be feeling the pressure of having to carry more of the offensive load without Tyler Herro. With Herro set to miss at least the first month of the season due to injury, Bam will certainly have to step up a bit more on the offensive end of the floor, and you can't help but wonder if that's on his mind a bit too much through the first couple of games in preseason.
After his uneven performance against the Bucks, Bam is now a combined 1-8 shooting from the field through two preseason games. He also hasn't looked that comfortable, either, on the offensive end of the floor.
Maybe that has something to do with learning to play a new style of offense and/or getting acclimated to playing next to Norman Powell, or even just not having the complete rotation of players available, but something has felt off.
Bam Adebayo needs to simplify his own offense
At least for now, it doesn't feel as if anything comes easy for Bam on the offensive end of the floor. This is not necessarily just a preseason development, either. We saw a ton of this last season, especially when Bam was in his offensive rut during the first half of last year.
And if he's going to emerge as a better player - and a greater threat - on that end of the floor this season, he's going to have to simplify things for himself.
It can't just be ramming himself into the paint in hopes of getting a foul call so he can get to the free-throw line. That's just not a sustainable offensive philosophy, especially for a player who isn't known for getting star calls. Whether it falls on Spo or Bam himself, the offense has to come easier for him.
Bam can't play a full season as the starting center
As much as the Heat have been accustomed to throwing everything on Bam's plate over the first few years of his career, I can't imagine that's a good formula for this season. If the Heat wants Bam to take a step forward on the offensive end of the floor, especially with Herro out for the first month of the season, they're going to need to make life easier for him.
Watching him play so far this preseason, I'd have to imagine a big part of that could include starting Kel'el Ware next to him. Bam is going to get worn down if he's asked to do everything on defense and then to carry a significant load offensively.
That's not fair, and he will eventually burn out if that's the path the Heat go down.
Even though it's just preseason, it's pretty clear that Miami may have a little too much on Bam's plate right now. That has to be considered one of the biggest takeaways so far.