3 Ways the Miami Heat can snatch back the Southeast division from the Magic

3. Bam Adebayo anchors a top-rated Heat defense

Every four years, we see Team USA players leave the Olympics with sharpened toolkits. Being around so much greatness is contagious.

Heat fans witnessed Dwyane Wade return from the 2008 Olympics in peak form. In the following 2009 season, Wade captured his first scoring title, averaging over 30 points a game. Being surrounded by the likes of the late-great Kobe Bryant and LeBron James undoubtedly rubbed off on the Heat GOAT.

There's a path for Bam Adebayo to display the greatness that rubbed off on him during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Adebayo was a part of arguably the deepest Team USA men's basketball team America has trotted out this summer. Social Media frequently saw Bam hanging with the likes of Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant. None of those legends are the defender Bam is, but winning Gold with them should light a fire under him.

The Orlando Magic have a rugged defense with vicious on-ball defenders. How can the Heat match their defensive intensity? Starting with Bam, he's capable of having an All-Time defensive season that propels Miami to the top of defensive ratings.

Adebayo is the most versatile defender in basketball. When he switches on to Kyrie Irving, Erik Spoelstra does not feel like he's falling off a rollercoaster. Heat staff and personnel look at a matchup like that and think, "Oh, Bam's got this; he'll hold his own." The same train of thought is used when Bam matches up with powerhouses like Giannis Antetokumpo. It's clear what Bam can do one-on-one, but he's also lifted Miami's overall team defense every year of his career.

Since Adebayo became the full fledge starting five in 2020, here are the Heat's defensive ratings rankings:

2020: 10th

2021: 9th

2022: 4th

2023: 7th

2024: 5th

He's been a model of consistency, anchoring top-10 defenses. Bam has also improved as a rim protector. Teams only shot 28% of their shots (second) at the rim against the 5th-ranked Heat defense last season. He controls the game with switches, drop coverage, knowing where to be in a zone, and high-IQ defensive playmaking.  

Players aren't trying Bam on the perimeter or at the basket—offenses gameplan ways to avoid him and attack other options. There's no doubt he'll continue to have a massive impact on the game defensively, but if Miami wants to take back the Southeast crown, Bam's already elite-level defense could tick up a bit to a level we haven't seen him reach after playing in Paris.