In a team sport, not everyone is always going to play, especially in a 40-minute Olympic basketball game as opposed to a 48-minute NBA contest.
Reigning NBA champion Jayson Tatum (and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton) were subject to that in Team USA’s 26-point win over Team Serbia Sunday. Head coach Steve Kerr benched Tatum in favor of superstar forward Kevin Durant, one of USA’s greatest Olympic basketball players ever, who was returning from injury.
Kerr revealed after the game that Tatum was going to play in their second game against South Sudan on Wednesday. ESPN NBA analyst Brian Windhorst boldly suggested that Heat center Bam Adebayo–one of the team’s top defenders–would possibly be the next one to ride the pine.
“The game plan WORKED. … It was the most impressive performance for USA Basketball in the last two Olympics.” @windhorstESPN tells @PatMcAfeeShow he’s not worried about Jayson Tatum not playing against Serbia Sunday. pic.twitter.com/WFG84BWeeK
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 29, 2024
Lo and behold, Adebayo wasn’t benched. In fact, he was arguably their best player Wednesday–scoring a team-high 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting (2-3 3PT), hauling in seven rebounds with one steal and two blocks.
After the game, the three-time All-Star had his fun trolling the famed analyst.
“Bam Adebayo was all over me after the game because I speculated that he might be the player that would see his minutes reduced to get Tatum in the game,” Windhorst said on ESPN’s Sports Center.
Bam reportedly let Brian Windhorst hear it after leading Team USA in scoring
“Bam Adebayo was all over me after the game because I speculated he might get his minutes reduced to get Tatum in.”😅 (via ESPN)pic.twitter.com/lASsYpmoTy
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) August 1, 2024
Adebayo also posted this on social media not long after their 17-point win, clinching a place in the knockout round:
https://t.co/G9fQ57gAvT pic.twitter.com/qxTmCRUG5x
— 13am Adebayo💥 (@Bam1of1) July 31, 2024
Credit to Windhorst for taking it on the chin … or at least him appearing like he did. He was wrong. It’s hard to foresee Adebayo–who you could argue is USA’s second-most-valuable big behind Lakers star Anthony Davis–seeing a goose egg anytime soon barring injury.
To Windhorst’s credit, however, he did predict they would bench a center–he just picked the wrong one. Instead, it was Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, whose impact has been minimal during these Olympics.
Adebayo’s averaging 11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and one block on 62.5 percent shooting, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range in two games. He was sensational Wednesday in their second group with Kevin Durant and Derrick White, kick-starting a 16-4 first-quarter run (after it was tied) that Team USA didn’t look back from.
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Another stinker from Embiid tonight. I’ve got a friend that’s a Sixers fan and I’m starting to laugh in his face about Embiid. The only three players that have never been to the Finals on the USA team are Halibuton, Ant Man, and Embiid. Bam’s been there twice! How quickly would Pat Riley hang up the phone if Morey offered him Embiid for Bam?
REGARDLESS WHAT THE “DEBBIE DOWNERS” SAY (NAMES OMITTED TO PROTECT THE GUILTY) THE HEAT’S GLASS IS DEFINITELY HALF-FULL!
These long summer days gives us a chance to catch our breath in between seasons. It also provides plenty of time to think. I’ve been thinking about next season and have come to the conclusion that, despite not making a blockbuster trade, Miami is still in a very good place. Here are my reasons for feeling that way.
1) Bam’s game continues to evolve and improve. With his ability to shoot 3 point shots effectively, he provides the flexibility of playing small ball with him at center (ala Golden State) or playing “tall ball” by sliding him over to the power forward position when going up against bigger teams.
2) Drafting Kel’el Ware gives Miami an opportunity to develop a frontcourt partner for Bam for years to come. Although he may be used sparingly to start the season, I can see him quickly developing into Miami’s starting center, with Bam at the 4.
3) Improved team chemistry and efficiency. The Heat used a total of 38 starting units last year due to injuries. Six of Miami’s rotation players played 60 or fewer games (Rozier 31, Herro 42, Richardson 43, Jovic 46, Love 55, Butler 60). The backcourt of Rozier and Herro were on the court together a total of 187 minutes (less than four full games).
4) Despite the injuries and lack of offense and overall consistency, Miami finished 46-36, only four games back of second place New York, which finished 50-26.
5) Returning players Josh Richardson and Haywood Highsmith provide excellent experience, defense and decent offense off the bench.
6) New players Kel’el Ware and Pelle Larsson should add to the team’s depth. In addition, undrafted players Keshod Johnson, Josh Christopher and Isaiah show a great deal of promise and will come in handy in the event of injuries.
7) Jovic and Jaquez both appear to have much higher ceilings and should only continue to improve over the course of the season.
8) Last but not least, Jimmy Butler should arrive to training camp with a very focused and determined attitude, with a huge chip on his shoulder, eager to prove all his critics wrong and to demonstrate why is worthy of a maximum contract extension. If “Playoff Jimmy” shows up to camp, it will be very infectious and motivating for everyone else. If Emo/Mickey Mouse/Headbanger Jimmy shows up, it will have the opposite effect on the team. In that case, I don’t see Riley waiting very long to trade him. If that happens, I can see Jaquez easily sliding into the SF spot.
Bottom line, I feel the glass is definitely half-full and believe it should be a very exciting season.
GO HEAT!!!
Couldn’t have said it any better myself!!! Similar sentiments were on the Locked On Heat You Tube channel earlier. It isn’t to say they’ll definitely contend for a title, but if all works as you point out – health and Butler’s effort in particular – they can end at least in the top 6.
Rec!
In two weeks, Bam and Davis might replace Embiid and Jokic as the two best centers in the world