Bam Adebayo shouldn’t be OK with taking the blame for the Miami Warmth’s brutal 0-4 begin to the season.
The Warmth star, after the > on Monday evening, mentioned he feels singled out for the franchise’s struggles — particularly after they landed Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster deal this previous offseason.
“You understand, it’s humorous how the surface noise desires to make me the scapegoat,” Adebayo mentioned, >. “However when the tables flip, simply all that power, when the power shifts, simply be ready for that.”
Although it’s not honest to place all the blame on Adebayo, he has struggled within the early stretch of the season. Adebayo is averaging simply 11.8 factors and seven.3 rebounds per recreation, and is barely taking pictures 16.7% from the 3-point line. He had simply eight factors and went 3-of-10 on Monday evening, and missed all 5 of his makes an attempt from behind the arc.
Antetokounmpo, in the meantime, > with 29 factors, 14 rebounds and 11 assists.
By comparability, Adebayo averaged 20.1 factors and 10 rebounds per recreation final season. > in March, which is the second-most scored by a participant in a single contest in NBA historical past. Solely Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point recreation in 1962 sits forward of him on that listing.
For now, Adebayo mentioned his struggles are just because his shot shouldn’t be getting in. It’s nothing extra.
"I received expectations for myself, however, clearly, the surface noise received expectations for us," he mentioned. "So for me, I do know what I'm able to. I'm not going to overthink that. We're 0-4 proper now. I'd somewhat it’s proper now than this be halfway by the season or in April. As a result of what if we go on a 10-game successful streak? Then how does the noise change?"
The Warmth will tackle the Atlanta Hawks subsequent on Wednesday. A loss there would match their worst begin because the 2007-08 marketing campaign. The Warmth additionally at present maintain the worst file within the league, although 4 different franchises are additionally nonetheless looking for their first win.
Miami nonetheless has time to determine how all of the items work collectively now that Antetokounmpo is within the combine. Bam’s numbers falling from final season appeared inevitable after the commerce. However up to now, it’s not been a great begin.
"It's not simply Bam, it's everyone," Antetokounmpo mentioned. "You understand, everyone — we strive to determine the place we slot in and what we gotta do. Form of attempt to not step on our toes."