Are the Heat reliving their nightmare regular season from last season? As injuries to key players continue to pile up, whether for Tyler Herro but also Jimmy Butlerhit in the ankle, the Florida franchise decided to calm things down with Bam Adebayobothered by recurring hip problems.
After walking on eggshells for almost a month (his first absence due to a hip contusion dates from October 30), Miami made the decision, sending his pivot back to the infirmary for treatment. He will therefore be absent from the match against Indiana this evening. After having spared him as best he could during all this time, Erik Spoelstra decided that it was time to call it quits at halftime of the last match, already against Indiana, on Thursday evening.
A light schedule for a big week
“He came in the last four minutes of the second quarter and went to treatment at halftime with the intention of coming back. I talked with him and said: “You're struggling like in the fourth quarter of the game against New York (100-98 defeat with a transparent Bam Adebayo). It's November. I won't put you back in the game in the second half. I’m taking this decision out of your hands.” I hadn't even talked to the staff about it at the time.”, said Erik Spoelstra on Friday.
The coach knows that this may be the right time to offer his inner leader a little rest without losing too much in the process. The Heat's schedule will actually lighten up a little over the next nine days with only three games remaining, against Indiana this evening, then Toronto on Wednesday and finally against Cleveland on Saturday. Hoping that Bam Adebayo can quickly get rid of his pain which is currently preventing him from playing at his best level.
“It’s nothing serious, fortunately. That's just what happens when you play competitive NBA basketball. You take hits, you give yourself, you twist things, all that kind of stuff. He heals quickly, so we will continue to treat him and see how he progresses.”added Erik Spoelstra.
During Bam Adebayo's convalescence, Miami will be able to rely on Thomas Bryant, Kevin Love and Orlando Robinson.
| Bam Adebayo | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | MIA | 69 | 20 | 51.2 | 0.0 | 72.1 | 1.7 | 3.8 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 6.9 |
| 2018-19 | MIA | 82 | 23 | 57.6 | 20.0 | 73.5 | 2.0 | 5.3 | 7.3 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 8.9 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 72 | 34 | 55.7 | 14.3 | 69.1 | 2.4 | 7.8 | 10.2 | 5.1 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 15.9 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 64 | 34 | 57.0 | 25.0 | 79.9 | 2.2 | 6.7 | 9.0 | 5.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 18.7 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 56 | 33 | 55.7 | 0.0 | 75.3 | 2.5 | 7.6 | 10.1 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 19.1 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 75 | 35 | 54.0 | 8.3 | 80.6 | 2.5 | 6.7 | 9.2 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 20.4 |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 16 | 34 | 52.2 | 33.3 | 81.3 | 2.1 | 7.9 | 9.9 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 22.3 |
| Total | 434 | 30 | 55.2 | 13.8 | 75.8 | 2.2 | 6.3 | 8.5 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 15.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
