After successfully filling in the pieces around Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, the Miami Heat have very few flaws, on paper.
A defense anchored by Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo— along with Davion Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins and Pelle Larsson in the rotation— will be a clearcut top-three defense. Pat Riley and the front office addressed the need for shooting by acquiring Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. They added big man depth in Bobby Portis and Nick Richards, and added an intriguing draft selection of Ryan Conwell.
But there’s one concern that has been spoken about with this roster: not having a true closer.
Somebody that can create his own offense during clutch-time with the game on the line. Tyler Herro usually filled that role in recent seasons, but was shipped to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Giannis deal. However, there’s another longtime Heat All-Star that has shown he is capable of making big plays.
Bam Adebayo has a career 54% fourth quarter shooting percentage, per Stat Muse.
Adebayo, a proven multi-time All-Star and All-Defensive Heat captain, is a slept on closing option for Miami.
He may not be flashy, or a true isolation three-level scorer option, but he has a history of stepping up in high pressure moments on both sides of the ball. Adebayo has knocked down three buzzer-beating game winners in his career. He’s always been a strong midrange shooter and is capable of getting to his spots. Additionally, he has had marquee defensive plays and deep playoff run experience— including two runs to the NBA Finals and one Eastern Conference finals.
Antetokounmpo can always make that clutch read as he’s been an improved passer over the years. Of course, he can get to the bucket with will at any moment as well. But with 10 seconds or less left on the clock in need of a huge jump shot, Adebayo should be the guy to be called on.
This type of proven late-game bucket getter will continue to be a need for this revamped Heat roster, whether through trade or free agency as the franchise entires year one of the Giannis era. But for now, Adebayo has shown he is capable.
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I have to disagree that Bam can be a closer. Maybe occasionally, but not at a high enough percentage to put the ball in his hands regularly at the end of games. Bam does so many other things so very well, but closing is not his forte. OTOH, Giannis can be quite a closer, and that ability, the ability to score even when you are being heavily defended, is hard to find.
With the right players around him, I think he can become a closer. I see a potent scoring group with Mitchell feeding Bam and Giannis.