For the first time in their NBA careers, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo are arguably the two biggest building blocks for a Miami Heat organization that’s had difficulty adjusting to life after Jimmy Butler, who they traded to the Golden State Warriors ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
The Heat are 4-14 since the deadline, including 3-13 with a minus-6.8 NET Rating in games where at least two of Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and Davion Mitchell played. The Heat have lost seven straight for the second time since 2007-08 and are nine games below .500 for the first time since 2016-17. For comparison, the Warriors are 14-2 since Butler’s debut, including 14-1 in games he plays.
These last two months have been challenging for Adebayo and Herro, who shouldered even more of the burden in Butler’s absence. Adebayo opened up to reporters earlier this week and spoke about the seismic transition.
“It’s growing pains for us,” Adebayo said, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “This is the first situation that’s it has really been just me and Tyler. I mean, obviously, the addition of [Andrew Wiggins], but we’re still trying to get Wiggs comfortable to where he can be fully himself. Right now, we’re keeping it simple for him and just kind of getting out of his way. But for me and Tyler, it’s more so understanding that we know how hard it is to win in this league. You can never take that for granted.
“It has never been easy for us. … So for us, it’s keeping a positive mindset and keeping the locker room together and just making sure that outside noise doesn’t start to sneak in.”
Since the start of February, Adebayo has averaged 21.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 53.8 percent shooting, including 36.5 percent from deep (3.2 3PA) and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line. Outside of Miami’s two games this week against the Clippers and Celtics, Adebayo’s largely stepped up in a primary role on both ends of the floor.
The same could not be said for Herro, a first-time All-Star, whose efficiency has understandably regressed after a razor-sharp start to the season. More defensive attention has been delegated to him as a ballhandler, and the results have been mixed due to worse decision-making.
With Adebayo and Herro on the court without Butler, the Heat have sported a disastrous minus-5.4 NET Rating–no bueno. Since the deadline, that NET Rating has spiked … in the wrong direction, with the Heat getting outscored by 10.8 points per 100 possessions, according to PBP Stats.
This has been a huge adjustment for both players on a night-by-night basis, but none of it has translated to winning, which is an issue in the short term.
Perhaps these are growing experiences for everyone involved. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra believes so, knowing that both stepping into “alpha” roles without Butler for the first time in their NBA careers carries a steep learning curve not suited for everyone.
“With everything that has been going on, that part I’ve enjoyed watching — to see them grow into these roles,” Spoelstra said. “If you want to lead, these are the times. You have to be able to do it when the seas are a little bit rough, a little bit choppy.
“Anybody can lead when things are going great. Anybody can be a front-runner in those kinds of situations. But these guys, they’re about the right things. They want it so bad. They want everybody to play well and get this breakthrough. It starts with that and then everybody else filling in, as well. We say it all the time, it’s leadership at all levels. But those two guys have been around the longest. I think everybody is just kind of turning to them naturally.”
I think it’s fair to criticize how the roster is constructed with both being your 1A and 1B type players–plus Andrew Wiggins. But you can’t know what you have until you throw them in the fire, which is what the Miami Heat is going through right now; pressure creates diamonds.
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Yeah, keeping that outside noise out is the biggest challenge. Also recognizing the shades in which those outside noise will come is equally important. Forget calls for trades, forget calls for coach changes, forget calls on the plus or minus and you guys will be fine.
If Miami (29-38) was in the Western Conference, it would be 1/2 game ahead of 12th place Portland.
Bam and Herro are great supporting cast members. Neither one will replace Butler. Neither one has ever demonstrated the characteristics of a strong Alpha Male!