On the second night of a back-to-back against the Los Angeles Clippers, and with Jimmy Butler sidelined, the Miami Heat were always going to be asking a lot of Bam Adebayo. The loss highlighted the need to get the absolute most out of Adebayo as often as possible.
His start to the game could not have been more emphatic, posting 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting in just nine opening quarter minutes. And while he still had his moments in the ensuing three quarters, Adebayo would take just nine shots for the remainder of the game, ultimately finishing with 30 points as the Heat fell to the Clippers, 112-109.
The Miami Heat need to be getting the most out of Bam Adebayo on offense
While this is not a regular occurrence, it’s not the first time this has happened since Adebayo’s ascension to All-Star status. Whether it’s with a full complement of teammates or having to do things solo, such instances become all the more obvious as Adebayo’s status and reputation around the league continue to grow.
After having a 45.8 percent usage rate in the opening quarter against the Clippers, Adebayo’s usage rate for the remainder of the game reached just 15.4 percent. His overall game total of 22.5 percent was noticeably down from his season average of 26.6.
This recent stretch of unassertiveness was particularly glaring for several reasons. Not only was Butler sidelined, but the manner in which Adebayo attacked the game from the outset should’ve given him the impetus to continue to dominate the remainder of the game.
But most importantly, the Heat had already lost their opening two games of the current five-game road trip, and a win would have done wonders for their overall mindset moving forward.
Last season, the Heat finished with a 40-32 record but were 9-12 when Adebayo had a usage rate under 21.0. This season, the Heat are now 7-5, but 1-3 when Adebayo’s usage rate dips below 24.0.
Granted, it’s extremely difficult to pinpoint the reason one specific thing or individual when ascertaining why Adebayo’s usage and assertiveness can fluctuate. On a number of occasions following games last season, Adebayo acknowledged the need to be more aggressive following a loss in which he had little impact on the offensive end. Another thing to take note of is when head coach Erik Spoelstra stated the following:
Erik Spoelstra on a more aggressive Bam Adebayo tonight: "We have to make a conscious effort as a team to get him involved and get him in his sweet spots because he creates so many good things for our team."
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) April 15, 2021
This is all not to say that the former Kentucky product has not made strides in this area. Through 11 games this season, Adebayo is averaging 20.3 points per game with a 26.6 usage rate, both a career-high to date. However, some numbers from the Clippers game would certainly raise some eyebrows.
Despite his scorching start to the contest, Adebayo ranked third on the Heat in touches with 62 in his 39 minutes on the floor. This comes directly after the loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, in which Adebayo had 83 touches despite playing just 34 minutes.
As Spoelstra alluded to last season, having a more aggressive Adebayo is certainly a collective effort, particularly in instances where their best player is sitting on the sidelines.
In terms of the defensive end of the floor, this is where no questions can be asked. Adebayo’s overall production and output thus far this season are at an absolutely elite level, as he is off back-to-back NBA All-Defensive Second Team selections.
However, in order to reach their absolute potential and return to the NBA Finals stage, the Miami Heat will need Bam Adebayo to truly appreciate just how influential he can be on the offensive end on a game-to-game basis.