The Miami Heat are 7-2 in their last nine games. After a 0-4 start to the season, the Heat appear to have sorted out some of their big early-season issues. Perhaps most importantly, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo have quietly evolved into the frontcourt duo that no other team in the Eastern Conference wants to see right now.
It's not just the fact that the Heat have seemingly recovered after digging themselves into a hole through the first four games of the year. What's been most impressive for Miami is how quickly it appears Giannis and Bam have begun to click since then.
During those first four games of the season, the Giannis and Bam duo seemed to fit in an awkward way. They weren't effective when they were on the floor together defensively, and they were consistently trying to occupy the same spots on offense.
Giannis and Bam have flipped the narrative over the last nine games
Not only were there big questions about the Heat's supporting cast, but there were rising concerns about the Giannis and Bam fit as a whole during those first four games. That has changed completely over the last nine games. Not just by how the Heat's supporting cast has played, but especially by how dominant the Giannis and Bam duo has looked.
The Heat's energy shift has started with Giannis and Bam. They've set the tone for the rest of the team. During the Heat's last nine games, Giannis and Bam are averaging a combined 52 points, 23 rebounds, and eight assists. Perhaps most importantly, the Heat are 7-2 over that span with their dynamic duo leading the way.
There may not be a better microcosm of the Heat's last nine games than their last two, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons in back-to-back games. In each of those games, it was the dominance of Giannis and Bam that helped lead the way.
In those matchups, the Heat absolutely dominated the paint. Giannis and Bam had their way with each of those frontcourts, and there was nothing the Cavs or Pistons could do defensively to change that.
After many were quick to write off the Heat after how they looked through the first four games of the season, Giannis and Bam have managed to completely turn the tables. At this point, it's not outlandish to suggest that they've quietly evolved into the East's most dynamic duo.
With the way Giannis and Bam are playing right now, I can't imagine there's any Eastern Conference team that wants to see the Heat. They've been that dominant and are only going to get better as they get more comfortable with each other on the court.
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