Adebayo Pushes Back as Heat Open Giannis Era With 0-4 Skid

WHO:

RealGM Basketball - Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat captain and three-time All-Star, said outside critics were making him a “scapegoat” for Miami’s start.

RealGM Basketball - Heat coach Erik Spoelstra defended Adebayo, saying he had “some good, clean looks” but could not capitalize, and that they would work to get him aggressive in comfortable spots.

RealGM Basketball - Giannis Antetokounmpo said, “It’s not just Bam, it’s everybody.”

RealGM Basketball - Davion Mitchell said Adebayo needed to be more aggressive offensively and noted that Adebayo and Antetokounmpo operate in the same areas of the floor.

Sportskeeda - Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat were described as having an 0-4 start to his time in South Beach.

WHAT:

RealGM Basketball - Miami lost 113-109 at home to the Dallas Mavericks, extending its losing streak to four games; it was the franchise’s worst start since the 2007-08 season.

RealGM Basketball - Against Dallas, Adebayo scored eight points on 3-of-10 shooting and went 0-for-5 from three-point range.

RealGM Basketball - Through four games, Adebayo averaged 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 40% overall and 16.7% on three-point attempts.

RealGM Basketball - Adebayo said he was taking more three-pointers and expected them to fall: “When it does ... we’ll see a shift.”

RealGM Basketball - Antetokounmpo recorded his first triple-double with Miami. ESPN Research said he was Miami’s only starter with a positive true net rating in three games that season.

Sportskeeda - The article reported that NBA fans criticized Adebayo’s poor run and referenced the claim “Tyler Herro Was Right.”

WHERE:

RealGM Basketball - Miami’s loss to Dallas took place at home.

Sportskeeda - Antetokounmpo’s start with the Heat was described as taking place in South Beach.

WHEN:

RealGM Basketball - Adebayo spoke Monday after the Heat’s home loss to Dallas.

RealGM Basketball - Adebayo’s cited statistics covered the first four games of the season.

WHY:

RealGM Basketball - Adebayo attributed his shooting struggles to his shot not going in and said he would not overthink it.

RealGM Basketball - Adebayo said the outside criticism focused on him as a scapegoat; he said a shift in energy could change that response.

RealGM Basketball - Adebayo said taking more three-pointers was the main change in his game.

RealGM Basketball - The article said a modest decline in Adebayo’s production had been anticipated after Miami acquired Antetokounmpo in an offseason blockbuster trade.

HOW:

RealGM Basketball - Mitchell said the Adebayo–Antetokounmpo pairing would take time to work because the two players operate in the same areas of the floor.

RealGM Basketball - Spoelstra said he and Adebayo would work together to find ways to get him aggressive in positions where he felt comfortable.

The Miami Heat fell at home to Dallas, 113 to 109, extending their losing streak to four games and marking the franchise’s worst start since the 2007-08 season. Bam Adebayo scored eight points on three-of-10 shooting, and said outside critics were making him a scapegoat; through four games, he was averaging 11.8 points while shooting 40 percent overall and 16.7 percent from three. Coach Erik Spoelstra said Adebayo had good looks and the two would work to get him more aggressive in comfortable spots, while Giannis Antetokounmpo said the struggles were not just Bam’s, and Davion Mitchell noted the teammates operate in the same areas of the floor.