Stan Van Gundy was right about Bam Adebayo

Is Bam Adebayo for real?

The Miami Heat have their highest expectations since the Big Three era, and their captain is having his slowest start in two years, which is a big deal since people care about the team now, and Giannis Antetokounmpo can opt out of his contract in the summer. It’s been ages since the East has been this strong, so starting the season in a crater is already cause for the alarm bells. 

Adebayo said he knows he’s playing poorly, but thinks he’s being targeted as a scapegoat. That’s hysterical because he’s been outplayed by Paul Reed, John Collins and P.J. Washington when he’s supposed to be some renowned $50 million player; he can’t be blamed for all of it since Tim Hardaway Jr. and Klay Thompson are playing like scrubs, but a good chunk of the 0-4 record is on him.

Davion Mitchell said at Monday's post-game press conference that Adebayo needs to be more aggressive and avoid the spots Antetokounmpo is working in. He was spot on, but imagine how frustrated even Adebayo's teammates have to be for someone to come out as directly as Mitchell did.

ESPN analyst, Jorge Sedano, recently said on Five on the Floor that Adebayo is a top 20 player or even higher. I want a piece of his prescription because there’s no way someone who loses confidence offensively, like Draymond Green, is a great player. He’s always been very good, but I’ve never understood why his reputation is unassailable locally or the need to anoint him when it has not been earned.