In the absence of Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo was phenomenal for the Heat against the Hawks. But the interior obviously received support from other players, including rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The winger, who had just established his career record at 11 points in the previous match, took advantage of the absences to almost double his best mark, with 20 points at 8/17 shooting, plus 4 assists in 38 minutes.
Not a “classic rookie”
This is also a record for the former UCLA player, who played around twenty minutes per game until then.
“Jaime was phenomenal” appreciated Bam Adebayo. “I keep saying he’s not a classic rookie. At some point, people will start to believe me, if he continues to achieve performances like this. »
Still quite clumsy from afar (2/7, for a cumulative 7/27 since the start of the season) including a nasty airball from the left corner, the 22-year-old player is on the other hand much more effective near the circle.
Used as an initiator by Erik Spoelstra
Quickly taking position behind Dejounte Murray’s back, or showing his technique by attacking the circle, Jaime Jaquez Jr. weighed on the Hawks’ defense, even offering himself a place in the Top 10 while Bogdan Bogdanovic tripped up. in the carpet. Above all, he showed good things as an initiator.
“I was just trying to create things” he explained about his mentality. “Coach trusted me, giving me the ball a few times, and I just tried to do the right thing. »
Enough to help Miami (5-4), despite the absences, to achieve a fourth consecutive success, to move back to the East.
