NBA

How Heat’s Bam Adebayo is making life hard on Knicks

After the Knicks’ big men dominated Cleveland in the first round, Bam Adebayo is returning the favor in the second — despite what Julius Randle claims. 

From his focus to his physicality, Adebayo has lifted the Heat to a 3-1 second-round series lead coming into Wednesday’s Game 5 at the Garden. 

“Just the way [Adebayo] stays with it,” Jimmy Butler said. “He guards incredibly well, passes the ball, he’s playing with a lot of energy. It’s very contagious. Everybody follows suit. And he’s going to be a big part of why we win this next one, too.” 

The Heat have the sound or countenance of a team intent on not needing a Game 6 back in South Florida. 

The Knicks have thrived on second-chance points, but Miami has taken that away in its two home wins — and Adebayo was a big part of that

“Spo’s [Erik Spoelstra] been making it a big emphasis of first to the basketball,” said Adebayo, who had a game-high 13 rebounds in Game 4 along with numerous box-outs and tip-outs to teammates that didn’t show up in the stat sheet. 

Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) defends against New York Knicks forward Julius Randle
Bam Adebayp has frustrated Julius Randle and the Knicks, despite Randel’s insistence otherwise. AP

“Being aggressive, that’s the biggest thing. You never know, you might be the person that will just tip it, and your teammate will get it. It’s just having those sacrifices of going in there and trying to actually get one.” 

Adebayo had 23 points on 10 of 17 shooting Monday night, and outplayed both Randle and Mitchell Robinson.

He held Robinson to just six points in 33:07, and frustrated and flustered Randle, despite Randle’s protestations on Twitter. 


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“Just trying to impact winning. That’s the biggest thing, figuring out ways I can find my shots, be aggressive. And my shots were falling,” Adebayo said. “Finding my ways to impact winning and my teammates were finding me and I made shots.” 

Adebayo — named second-team All-Defense on Tuesday — has been tasked with many burdens not just against the Knicks’ bigs but their downhill threats, in drop, zone and even switching.

Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat slams the ball during the second half
Adebayo has chipped in with his offensive play, too. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

With Butler hindered by a sore ankle and Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett attacking, Adebayo has had to cover for Butler as well. 

“Yeah, he has to do all of it. He has to play pick-and-roll coverage, defend a great scorer in Randle who is relentless with his attacking, he knows how to draw fouls, he’s physical. And then when Bam’s matched up against their 5s he has to block out and then rebound. Then when he’s out on the perimeter he has to go back and rebound,” Spoelstra said. “Yes to all the above and he’s done that for sure.” 

Adebayo is averaging 17.8 points, 10.3 boards and is a big reason for Randle’s struggles — and Miami’s success. 

“He’s locked in, he’s focused. He’s been here before … he’s willing to do everything and he’s stepped up huge,” Max Strus said. “He’s finishing. He’s making shots. He’s defending at a very high level. He’s rebounding at a very high level and taking care of his guy. He might not get the rebound every time, but he’s hitting this guy and getting them out of the paint. It’s been huge for us.”