Heat Fall to 0-4 as Bam Calls Out Scapegoating — SkimNews
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- Bam Adebayo said outside critics had made him the “scapegoat” after Miami’s 113-109 loss to the Dallas Mavericks left the Heat 0-4, their worst start since the first five games of 2007-08.
- Bam Adebayo averaged 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds on 40% shooting through four games, including 16.7% from three, while posting eight points on 3-of-10 shooting and missing all five three-pointers against Dallas.
- ESPN Research counted three games this season in which Antetokounmpo was the only Miami starter with a positive true net rating.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his first triple-double with the Heat on Monday and said, “It’s not just Bam, it’s everybody,” while the team worked out where each player fit.
- Erik Spoelstra said Adebayo had clean looks but could not capitalize, and vowed to work with him to make him more aggressive in spots where he is comfortable.
- Davion Mitchell said Adebayo needs to be more aggressive, accepted responsibility for not letting him “get lost,” and noted that Bam and Giannis play in the same spaces.
Why it matters: For Miami, the problem is broader than Adebayo’s 11.8-point average and 16.7% shooting from three: in a 0-4 start, Antetokounmpo was the only starter with a positive true net rating in three games this season. Spoelstra’s concrete response is to make Adebayo more aggressive in comfortable spots while the pair adjust to sharing the floor.
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