Grading the Heat’s top 5 players three quarters through the season

The anchor and engine to this Miami Heat team has always been Bam Adebayo. After securing his third career All-Star appearance this season, Adebayo continues to be a difference-maker in every possible way for the franchise. He is a long-term cornerstone and more recently was named the new team captain following Udonis Haslem’s retirement.

Adebayo does everything possible on the basketball court, and he has no true flaws to his game, maybe besides a 3-point shot. But as the starting big man, he has been as phenomenal as anybody would ever expect. He is sporting post-All-Star game stats of 22.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists on 57.7% shooting. He also averages 1 block and 1 steal on the season. Both the points and rebounds are career-highs for Adebayo.

Adebayo’s two-way talent goes beyond the box score, and he is a true catalyst to the entire identity of the Heat. The way that he can guard all five positions at an elite level moves the needle, and will surely be huge come playoff time to help complement “Playoff Jimmy."