Bam Adebayo, Norman Powell share thoughts on adapting to new starting lineup

Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell each shared postgame comments on adjusting to the Heat’s new starting lineup amid Tyler Herro’s return.
(Photo via Imagn Images)

After the Miami Heat got embarrassed by the depleted and last place Indiana Pacers on Saturday, it showed that this group has a lot of work to do.

And if there’s any good time to attempt to put in that work, it’s now— as the roster is finally fully healthy.

The problem with the Heat’s up and down 2025-26 season has been the lack of consistent lineups and rotations. A big piece to the team’s offense in Tyler Herro has only appeared in 8 out of the 38 total games played. Other key pieces like Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo also have dealt with injuries, but none have missed extended time to the degree of Herro.

Herro plays a major part in what this team as presently constructed is trying to accomplish. He is coming off an All-Star year and has the offensive talent to provide a real boost. But that hasn’t been the case thus far. Instead, Miami has a 3-5 record in games that Herro has played in.

This isn’t a knock on Herro’s game or talent on the court, but more so a knock on his concerning availability issues impacting the team’s success.

The Miami Heat have not had enough time to build an identity with a fully healthy roster.

Adebayo and Powell each spoke postgame following their most recent blowout loss in Indiana on the challenge of adjusting with Herro back in the fold.

Bam: “It’s a process. This is the like 3rd game we’ve been fully healthy for the season… Guys in and out of the lineup, plug and play, we trynna figure it out. Hopefully we stay healthy and get through this bump and get back to winning some games.”pic.twitter.com/m6S1xLHBr7
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) January 11, 2026

“We played a certain way for a while. We had Pelle in the starting lineup. We went the two big lineup playing games and playing off one another. Then another guy comes back in Tyler who’s a scorer and can really boost your offense and everybody has to adjust…. Rotations is different, usage is different. It’s all about having some time to build that cohesiveness.”

— Norman Powell on the Heat’s new starting lineup with Tyler Herro back (via Miami Heat YT, h/t HeatCulture13/X)

Powell went a bit more in depth on the Heat’s situation than Adebayo, and everything he said is accurate.

Miami showed legitimate early season success this year building cohesion without Herro. Once upon a time, the Heat were 14-7 and manning down a top-three seed in a wide open Eastern Conference. Things were trending towards Miami emerging as a true underdog once again.

Integrating Tyler Herro has seemingly been harder than expected.

Herro coming back from offseason ankle surgery put October and November success to a slight halt. The offense instantly looked different while everyone had to incorporate an All-Star scorer into the team’s already established winning ways without him. Then before he could get comfortable, Herro instantly got sidelined for 13 straight games yet again with a new toe injury. This group has had to adjust, then revert back— just to adjust again.

Adding him back into the game plan once again is adding another 15 field goal attempt offensive option, which only naturally impacts the roles of everyone else around him.

With Herro only being back for a second separate time this season for two games, it’s still a bit too early to truly hit the full blown panic button. But the Heat, and Herro, are undoubtedly going through growing pains as they attempt to make this all work together.