How Bam Adebayo ‘balances’ new and improved Heat offense

MIAMI – Though the Miami Heat got a big win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, 126-108, the team would look different with the absence of their captain in Bam Adebayo. As the Heat star suffers from a toe injury that is keeping him out for Saturday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, his impact on the team’s new up-tempo offense is key.

For many seasons in Miami, Adebayo has been one of the main engines for the team’s offense as his versatility has made him a dynamic playmaker for his position.  This season, he’s been even more vital in leading the charge of the new offensive philosophy, which has been working with the team, recording 106.28 possessions per 48 minutes, which leads the league.

Also resulting in 122.8 points per game, fifth in the NBA, Adebayo has been crucial to the new look, but with him out for the time being, they’ll have to adapt. Norman Powell would say to ClutchPoints that Adebayo “balances” out the offense, even though the principles are the same with him absent.

“I think it balances us out a little bit more having Bam [Adebayo] on the floor, because he’s so versatile,” Powell said. “We give him the ball at the top to key. He can attack, he can make plays for others, he can be in the corner, you can put him in different spots. When he’s out, we’re kind of in that, like five out, four outs, kind of offense. And it takes more body movement, ball movement, for us to find openings and gaps to drive.”

“But obviously, when you have a versatile big like that, you can post them up and still play out of that,” Powell continued. “You can have them in the corner, up top, especially in transition. So there’s a different feel.”