1 Question for every Miami Heat player as countdown to NBA playoffs begins
With 10 games left in the season, we ask the biggest question facing every player on the Miami Heat's roster over this final stretch.
By Wes Goldberg
Before the start of the season, the Miami Heat didn’t anticipate being at risk of falling into the play-in tournament for the second straight year. But, with 10 games left, that’s exactly where they are.
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Heat. Injuries, 35 different starting lineups, an overhauled point guard room. All have added up to a blah first 72 games. Can the Heat make the most of these final 10 and climb into a guaranteed playoff berth, or will this rollercoaster season end with a thud?
With 10 games left in the season, we ask the biggest question facing every player on the Heat's roster over this final stretch.
To answer that would be to know what exactly is going on with this confusing roster. So let’s dive in. Here is one question for ever player on the Heat’s roster as this final playoff push begins.
What else can Bam Adebayo do?
Adebayo has been Miami’s most consistent player this season. Fans might want to poke holes in his game and claim that he’s not aggressive enough, but few players are able to provide world-class defense and average 20 points per game. Asking him to do more might not be realistic, but the Heat may need to do exactly that. The 3-point shooting seems to be real. At least Adebayo’s willingness to fire. HE has made 7 of 11 from distance over his last seven games. He won’t shoot 64% on 3s for the rest of his career. A regression is coming. When it does, will Adebayo abort the mission or continue to take 3s when he’s open?
What version of Jimmy Butler will the Heat get?
The Heat are 7-1 when Butler scores 30 or more points this season. Of all the questions regarding this Heat roster, the constant remains that when Butler plays like an All-NBA player, the Heat are contenders.
Butler tapped into that for a stretch. From the end of January to the beginning of March, Butler averaged 24.5 points on 55.5% shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game. The Heat went 8-2 in those games. It looked like Butler had summoned “Playoff Jimmy” early and even gave an interview claiming as much. Then his Super Mario star power wore off and Miami lost four straight games and tumbled down the East standings. To climb back up, they will need another strong Butler run.