Miami are recently coming off a 108-98 loss against the reigning champions, and many fingers are pointing at Bam Adebayo as he’s been struggling on the offensive end of the court. The All-Star is currently facing his career-worst shooting and seems determined to snap out of it and help his team get off this slump.
The team captain ended his last match against the Celtics with just 15 points to his name, hitting only 6-18 from the field and 1-4 from range. The versatile big man has also been producing his lowest-scoring mark in 5 years, with 15.6 points per match.
Despite his underperformances, Bam is convinced the ball will start dropping in. “Everybody is not going to have a great game every game. It is what it is,” he said on Monday. “For me, it’s not losing confidence in who I am.”
Bam Adebayo is 12-39 on layups this season 😭 pic.twitter.com/zrCNIl0BOC
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) December 4, 2024
The secret, he says, is to not worry too much. “It’s not overthinking the game too much because then you’ll start making other mistakes,” he added. “It’s one of those things where I’m just missing shots. I don’t really look at it any more than that. I feel like at some point, the shots are going to turn around and it’s up from there.”
His coach, on the other hand, can’t find an explanation for it. “He’s built a career being able to make those shots and make those look easy,” Erik Spoelstra told press at the start of the week. “It’s just one of those stretches that sometimes you can’t explain.”
His teammates concur, as Tyler Herro dismissed the noise around the Heat’s star center. “I don’t think he’s struggling, honestly,” the shooting guard said. “I think he’s playing a great brand of basketball. He’s continuing to impact the game on the defensive end.”
Tyler then added: “He’s gotten two triple-doubles in the last three days. Missed shots are one thing, but he continues to find ways to impact the game. His scoring, he’ll continue to get his looks and he’s going to make his shots. We know what he’s capable of. So I don’t think he’s struggling.”
The Heat get ready to face their next rivals this Wednesday, a Lakers team who have lost five out of their past seven games
Miami (9-10) are set to receive the purple and gold club this Wednesday at the Kaseya Center, hoping to snatch a win after two-straight losses. The Lakers (12-9), on the other hand, have lost five out of their past seven games.
LeBron James couldn’t hide his frustration after their last game against Minnesota became the fewest points they’ve scored since January 22, 2017, when they lost 122 to 73 against Dallas. “It’s everything,” he said when asked about their performances. “It’s the rhythm. I just feel off rhythm the last few, three or four games.”
Co-star Anthony Davis also referred to his squad’s woes. “We got to get back into our spacing,” said the versatile big man. “We are kind of on top of each other when guys are trying to drive. When guys are in their spots for shooting, there’s a guy right under them. So the spacing is bad.”
James also hopes to improve his shooting precision. Not only did he go 4-of-16 from the field on Monday, but the superstar also missed his four attempts from beyond the arc, now extending his drought from range to 0-for-19 in the last four outings.
