Heat’s Bam Adebayo earning respect and double-teams: ‘The league is noticing and he’ll adapt’

On the same day Heat center Bam Adebayo was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the second time in his career, the Brooklyn Nets showed him the respect he has earned.

In the Heat’s overtime victory Monday, the Nets relentlessly double-teamed Adebayo when he had the ball. Only once in his seven-year NBA career had he seen more double-teams in the post.

According to tracking data, the Nets sent seven double-teams at Adebayo in the post and two double-teams at him in isolation situations.

“Different. Very, very different,” Adebayo said of what the extra attention felt like before the Heat closed its quick two-game trip Wednesday night against the Raptors in Toronto. “That’s the first time I’ve really been doubled that much in a game. But definitely a sign of respect and you watch film and you build off of that, knowing that teams are going to double you now. So the biggest thing is to find the open man.”

It’s hard to say the Heat handled the Nets’ defensive plan well, considering Miami totaled 96 points in a game that went into overtime. The Heat shot just 37.9 percent from the field and 8 of 31 (25.8 percent) from three-point range in the win.

Adebayo was limited to 11 points while shooting an inefficient 5 of 17 (29.4 percent) from the field and generating just two free throws on Monday. It marked his lowest point total this season of the games that he has finished and worst single-game shooting percentage this season, and he also tied a season low for free-throw attempts in a game.

“He felt what it’s like to be absolutely schemed against and I think that’s great for him and for us to face those constant double-teams,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s the first time really he’s been doubled that consistently and that’s born out of respect for what he’s been doing. The league is noticing and he’ll adapt. He’s been figuring things out exponentially through the competition and this will be a good step for him and us.”

Heat guard Tyler Herro admitted the team “could have done better” in handling the double-teams that the Nets sent at Adebayo on Monday.

Not only did the Nets send more double-teams at Adebayo than any other team this season, but the scheme included its own twist with the second defender usually coming from the player two passes away instead of from the baseline or the strong-side shooter. That left Adebayo trying to find the open player on the weak side of the court with multiple defenders in his face.

“I’m sure teams will start doubling Bam, doubling Jimmy [Butler] in the low post,” Herro said. “Our spacing was all right on certain possessions. But I think when we watch the film, we’ll get better with that spacing when they do double.”

But Adebayo still found a way to make a positive impact despite his shooting struggles against the constant double-teams. He grabbed a season-high 20 rebounds, dished out four assists, recorded one steal and one block while playing a season-high 44 minutes in the overtime win in Brooklyn.

“It was weird, not going to say it didn’t feel right,” Adebayo said of facing so many double-teams on Monday. “Just because you’re used to, maybe certain actions you get doubled. But it was like every time and you have to have the mental stability to keep playing and be productive. I did that rebounding and defending.”

CHANGES IN TORONTO

Heat guard Kyle Lowry always loves returning to Toronto.

Lowry, who spent nine consecutive seasons with the Raptors before joining the Heat as a free agent in the summer of 2021, will play in his fifth game in Toronto on Wednesday since moving to Miami.

But the Raptors are a different team from when Lowry played for the organization. With the Raptors reportedly trading forward Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers just hours before tip-off on Wednesday, Chris Boucher is the only player on the current Raptors roster who was also Lowry’s teammate when the Raptors won the 2019 NBA championship.

“The team is a completely different team from when I was here,” Lowry said before Wednesday’s game in Toronto. “They’re doing things to make their team, their organization a better organization. [Raptors president Masai Ujiri] is always going to try to make his team the best team he can. [Raptors general manager Bobby Webster] and those guys, they always focused on continuing to get better every single year and they’re going to do what they feel is best. Yeah, it’s definitely weird not having the guys around as much. But it’s still a place I love and I’m always going to love.”

KABOOM

Heat play-by-play announcer Eric Reid received another award this week.

Reid, who has been a Heat broadcaster since the inaugural season, was named the National Sports Media Association’s Florida Sportscaster of the Year for the fourth time in his career.

“He’s one of the best in the business and that’s the essence of greatness is to be able to do it consistently year after year,” Spoelstra said when told about Reid’s accomplishment on Wednesday. “He’s one of the first people I met way back when in 1995, so he has brilliance and greatness at what he does in his occupation and for the Heat. Any of us who have gotten to know him behind the scenes, really what the award could be about is what a great guy he is, what a great person he is.”

INJURY REPORT

The Heat ruled out Jamal Cain (G League), RJ Hampton (G League), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (strained left groin), Kevin Love (left knee contusion) and Dru Smith (season-ending knee surgery). The rest of the Heat’s roster is expected to be available for Wednesday’s game in Toronto.

The Raptors ruled out Christian Koloko (illness), Markquis Nowell (G League), Jakob Poeltl (sprained left ankle) and Otto Porter Jr. (right knee sprain) for Wednesday’s game against the Heat. Siakam will also miss the contest, with the Raptors reportedly trading him to the Pacers on Wednesday.