The Miami Heat pulled off a thrilling double-overtime win against the Orlando Magic on Monday and did so while leaning on what could be the team's formula moving forward.
Without Jimmy Butler, the Heat clawed back from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to snag their first back-to-back wins since Jan. 11. But the real story? Bam Adebayo's absolute masterclass performance.
This might've been Adebayo’s best game of the season, maybe of his career. This was a two-way showcase that highlighted everything special about Bam.
Defensive lockdown
Bam stuck to Paolo Banchero like glue, holding him to just two points in the fourth quarter. Banchero shot 1 for 8 overall and coughed up two turnovers with Adebayo defending, according to NBA stats.
Overtime hero:
In those extra periods, Bam's conditioning shone through. He was flying all over the court, affecting every play.
Point-Bam
We saw a new wrinkle in the Heat's offense, with Bam bringing the ball up and initiating plays. The Heat ran this set multiple times, with Adebayo handling at the top of the arc and rookie Kel’el Ware setting a screen on the opposite side – sort of an extended horns – with Duncan Robinson curling around Ware’s screen.
The Ware factor
Pairing Bam with Ware at center is a game-changer. It allows Bam to guard guys like Banchero instead of being stuck under the basket, and it takes some defensive pressure off him.
“That's a strength of ours now. Having Bam playing the 4 where he can roam around,” Tyler Herro said. “I think it's a luxury to have Kel'el under the rim, protecting the paint. It makes our defense more dynamic."
Now, this performance didn't come out of nowhere. The Heat need Bam to step up and be their star, especially with Jimmy Butler's future up in the air and indefinite suspension. On Monday night, Bam played like the star the Heat needed.
Can Bam bring this level of play consistently? With lineups that empower Adebayo to do what he does best, maybe performances like this become more of the norm in the second half of the season.
The bottom line is this: We saw a glimpse of what Bam can be when he's unleashed. It's up to the Heat to keep putting him in positions to succeed, and it's up to Bam to keep bringing this kind of energy and impact.