Bam Adebayo Showcases Improved Area Of Game In Team USA Victory Against Australia
![May 1, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) looks on from the bench during the fourth quarter of their 118-84 loss to the Boston Celtics in game five of the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports May 1, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) looks on from the bench during the fourth quarter of their 118-84 loss to the Boston Celtics in game five of the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3302,h_1857,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/inside_the_heat/01j2vqjm0jnbv0vm7ytc.jpg)
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo no longer can use as an excuse for lack of development.
He is now 27 entering his eighth NBA season. The Heat want want him to reach a new level this season.
"Bam has to look at his game and sit with coach, [and] how he can get better and expand his game," Heat team president Pat Riley said in May. "He's at a point right now, he's an All-NBA player. We're happy to have him."
But the Heat want to see more.
If Monday's performance for Team USA against Australia was any indication, the Heat should see an improved Adebayo. In the 98-92 victory, he impressed with his midrange game by scoring 10 points on 4 of 5 shooting in 17 minutes.
He stared off with an Hakeem Olajuwon-like move from the elbow in the first quarter.
BAM ADEBAYO DREAM SHAKE pic.twitter.com/UAhaRIxt7e
— Heat Clips 🎬 (@Demar305) July 15, 2024
Adebayo then hit a couple more 15-footers to show improvement. While many fans want him shooting 3-pointers, the midrange area is where he is most productive. It looked good in all of his attempts against Australia.
Bam middy still pure 🤌@usabasketball // #USABMNT 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/dB1pcq2fTX
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) July 15, 2024
The performance was encouraging for Adebayo, who last year was named an All-Star for the third time. His scoring dipped a little (19.3 ppg) but he averaged a career-best 10.4 rebounds. He also played 71 games, helping the Heat make up for extended absences from Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler.
Right back at it.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2024
🇺🇸 #USABMNT x 📺 @FS1 pic.twitter.com/wKom3lwoc1
The Heat know there is plenty room for more growth.
"In his growth spurt from his rookie to what he is right now has been off the chart," Riley said. "Everybody in the league knows what his game is. They all know what he does for us, how important he is for us in a lot of areas."
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Inside The Heat. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com
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