Miami Heat: 3 players facing most pressure in 2019-20

3. Bam Adebayo

After Miami groomed Hassan Whiteside into a well above average starter, Bam Adebayo took the reigns as the starting center last season after the All-Star break. He played some of the best basketball of his professional career in this stretch and will feel the pressure to continue playing at that level, if not exceeding it.

Adebayo’s play after the All-Star break gave a glimpse into how effective he can be when given quality minutes. In 27.5 minutes, he averaged 11.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists with an effective field goal percentage of .595 in the 22 games he started.

Only league MVP Giannis Antetoukounmpo averaged these numbers throughout the whole season. The task at hand for Adebayo is to prolong the production from those 22 games for 60 more regular-season games plus the playoffs.

Adding to the pressure Adebayo will face to improve is the Heat deciding to part ways with Whiteside. The former All-Defensive Second-Teamer was moved to make cap space to accommodate the Jimmy Butler trade. Miami could have kept looking for places to move Goran Dragic, who was originally supposed to be moved for cap space. Instead, they moved Whiteside.

While Whitesides play has been on the decline the past three seasons, Miami is showing a great deal in trust in Adebayo making significant improvements to his game. Adebayo is an x-factor for the Heat. His play will be the biggest determinant for Miami’s ceiling as a team.

Adebayo can take a jump this season. Making that jump could catapult Miami into a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference. Failing could mean a return to the bench and a lesser role.