The Miami Heat are amidst their best run of form so far this season. They are coming off three wins on the trot and even more impressive is the quality of opposition they have defeated along the way.
The first was a blowout win against the Los Angeles Lakers by a margin of 41 points even though both LeBron James and Anthony Davis played on the night. That was followed by a win against Pheonix Suns and then the best of the bunch, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This Heat team has been viewed as one that cannot keep up with genuine contenders but over the last few days, there has been a lot to be positive about. Has Erik Spoelstra finally found out how to get the best out of this roster?
One moment that has stood out during these three games was when Bam Adebayo yelled at Spoelstra against the Suns.
According to Ira Winderman in the Sun Sentinel, Adebayo said about the incident: "Spo always gets on us for glitching, and that was one of his glitches, where they're about to take the ball out, and he yells, ‘Two! Get in a zone.'
"And I'm like where you can't do that in the middle of the play. It just doesn't help us. And I got the foul for it. So it was one of those things where the next time down court, I barked at him and told him, ‘stop doing it.'"
In a different environment, a player yelling at the coach could turn out to be a problem. That does not seem to be the case in South Beach. Spoelstra said of the matter: "I tried to get our team organized into a zone and I messed that up.
"I called it too late, and he's yelling at me. I love it.
"I want him taking control of the defense. He is our voice. And every coverage, he was communicating it. Every huddle, he was making sure everybody understood what we were doing and what adjustments we were making. When he's like that, he's a special kind of leader."
Adebayo has had his fair share of critics this season. He was expected to make a jump and become the face of the team. He has not done that and his shooting efficiency has gone down.
But we are now starting to see glimpses of the real Adebayo once again. The 25-point, 12-rebound and 8-assist performance against the Suns was certainly one. It is certainly having a positive impact on the Heat's results.
Also, Adebayo seems to be filling his leadership duties quite well, even letting the coach know of his mistakes when the situation calls for it.
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This story was originally published December 8, 2024, 10:15 PM.