Heats’ Coach Uncover Shocking Reasons Why Bam Adebayo is being used in the post by the Heat more than ever before
The Miami Heat are using Bam Adebayo in the post more than ever before, with mixed results. Here’s why, and what it means for the future.
The Miami Heat are using Bam Adebayo in the post more than ever before, but with mixed results. Nonetheless, it’s a positive trend.
Adebayo was averaging 5.2 post-ups per game before departing Thursday’s game with a hip issue, according to NBA.com monitoring data. That would be more than his previous career best of three post-ups per game.
There are a few reasons behind the increase in post-ups.
- Jimmy Butler got off to a slow start
- Adebayo got off to a hot start
- Coach Erik Spoelstra is staggering Butler and Adebayo more than last season
The first two reasons are self-explanatory. Butler, after not participating in a single preseason game, averaged 16.5 points on 35.7% shooting through his first four games. Meanwhile, Adebayo is putting together a career year on offense, averaging a career-high in points (22.3) and free throw attempts (7.0) while shooting 52.2% overall. It’s only natural that the Heat would have played more through Adebayo.
But let’s drill down into that third reason.
Last season, more than 55% of Adebayo’s minutes came alongside Butler. Spoelstra preferred to staple his two stars together because it was his only lineup that consistently outscored opponents (plus 5.2 points per 100 possessions).
Last season, the Heat lacked depth, so even lineups led by a single star saw little action. According to Cleaning the Glass, lineups featuring Adebayo outscored lineups without Butler by 1.5 points per 100 possessions. According to CtG, while Butler was on the court without Adebayo, the Heat were outscored by 5.4 points per 100 possessions. The difficulty with this strategy is that the Heat frequently blew leads when Butler and Adebayo sat.
This season is unique. Spoelstra can construct rotations with one of his stars on the court for the most of the game because the Heat’s supporting cast has improved.
Lineups with Butler and no Adebayo this season: Plus-10.7 points per 100 possessions.
Adebayo without Butler, but with Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Duncan Robinson: Plus-4.7 per 100 possessions.
Those one-star-based lineups have been as good or better than last season’s two-star-based lineups.
Since Nov. 9, when Tyler Herro’s right ankle sprain forced Spoelstra to revamp his rotation, Adebayo is playing 43.8% of his minutes alongside Butler.
The Heat are a post-up team. Most of their actions are triggered from the block, whether it’s split cuts, shooters coming around screens or passes to the opposite corner. Butler and Adebayo are the hubs.
As well as they play together, Butler and Adebayo are not floor-spacers. When they share the court, the paint can get crowded when either one sets up shop in the post.
Take one off the court and replace him with a shooter like Caleb Martin or Josh Richardson, and Miami’s stars have more room to work.
Most of Adebayo’s minutes now are tied to Robinson. Big man and shooter have had two-man game chemistry since 2019, and it’s only gotten better as Robinson has developed his own off-the-bounce and passing skills.
Butler’s minutes are mostly tied to Lowry. They have developed a small-small pick-and-roll that has been a staple of Miami’s offense this season.
This is a positive development for the Heat. Adebayo and Butler play well together already, so finding other workable lineup combinations only gives Spoelstra more options.
The next step is Adebayo becoming more efficient with more opportunities. Though Adebayo is averaging the third-most post-ups in the league, the Heat are scoring only 0.93 points per 100 of such possessions.
(The league leaders, Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, are creating 1.12 and 1.06 points per 100 possessions for their teams, respectively. Butler hasn’t been much better, creating 0.85 points per 100 post-up possessions.)
While Adebayo posting up isn’t unusual, it’s unusual to this extent and with these teammates. The return of Herro should improve Miami’s efficiency. He’s a strong shooter who thrives as a second-side option in these situations.
But it will also require Adebayo to become a better decision-maker and a more willing passer in congested areas. More time and practice will be required, which is why the regular season exists.
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