Miami Heat year-end report cards

Bam Adebayo: B+

Adebayo has become a prisoner of expectations. The otherworldly athleticism and talent he  possesses foster unrealistic hopes. However, Adebayo’s rise has been slow and steady, not explosive, and he continued his upward trend this year.

He was the anchor of yet another top-10 defense despite having to put out fires all over the court. Adebayo, Butler, and Caleb Martin are the only above-average defenders on the roster. In a league increasingly focused on attacking a defense’s weakest link, Adebayo was a one-man chain — propping up Tyler Herro here, covering for Duncan Robinson there, saving Kyle Lowry everywhere.

The Heat couldn’t afford to play as much switch coverage as they liked, so Adebayo became one of the league’s best drop defenders. He’s still capable of freezing players like yesterday’s leftovers when they try to isolate on him, but he had far greater help responsibilities than ever before.

Offensively, Adebayo took a leap during the regular season, averaging career-highs in points and shot attempts. He took nearly two more shots per game than in previous seasons, showcasing his more assertive mindset.

Some of the old familiar problems reared their heads in the playoffs, however, where his FG% dropped to just 48%. Adebayo is fast but small for a center, and although he can handle the ball well in space, he sometimes struggles to score in the paint against bigger centers. His improved short-range jumper is a blessing and a curse: it gives him a weapon he needs, but too often, it seems like he settles for a low-value shot.

However, while his efficiency dropped, Adebayo’s aggressiveness generally carried over, and it was encouraging to see him stay in attack mode for most of the playoffs. He is hardly a fully-formed player, and as he enters his age-26 season, Adebayo should improve even more in the coming years.