Observations and different notes of curiosity from Sunday’s 106-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks:
– Bear in mind when that Bam Adebayo five-year, $163 million extension was seen by some as unpleasant?
– Bear in mind once you merely couldn’t pay that a lot for solely a defensive participant?
– Bear in mind when all the offensive bundle was questioned?
– And now take into account this: Is Bam Adebayo the Warmth’s greatest participant?
– With Jimmy Butler once more out of view with the knee ache that had him again in Miami, Adebayo on Sunday once more very a lot had the look of a number one man.
– Once more on each ends of the courtroom.
– Sure, the Hawks had been with out heart Clint Capela.
– And that actually mattered.
– However within the absence of Butler, in addition to among the Warmth’s shooters, Adebayo once more confirmed he's able to extra.
– And able to main.
– With a fierceness on the defensive finish.
– And a silky shooter’s contact on the opposite finish.
– Very a lot with the look of an All-Star.
– It was that Adebayo would defer.
– Now it’s Kyle Lowry deferring to Adebayo.
– And maybe Butler to take action, as properly.
– And Adebayo has been wanted, with a severely restricted bench.
– This time not solely was Butler once more out, but additionally Duncan Robinson, with Nikola Jovic coping with foot ache and Gabe Vincent knee ache.
– So the bench on Sunday was composed of Dewayne Dedmon, Haywood Highsmith, Jamal Cain and Smith.
– That’s one journeyman heart (Dedmon).
– Two two-way gamers (Cain, Smith).
– And the lone participant on the usual roster and not using a absolutely assured contract (Highsmith).
– To his credit score, Dedmon performed properly and supplied wanted reduction when Adebayo dared take a relaxation.
– With Max Strus again after lacking two video games with a shoulder impingement, he was again within the beginning lineup, changing Jovic, who had began the earlier six video games.
– The opening lineup was rounded out by Adebayo, Caleb Martin, Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry.
– That lineup had began two earlier video games, going 1-1.
– Whereas it was a smaller lineup than the one which had featured Jovic, coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned it didn't require any vital strategic adjustment.
– “Probably not, no,” Spoelstra mentioned. “It’s fairly comparable.”
– Martin had been questionable as a result of non-COVID sickness that's going across the locker room.
– As an alternative, he supplied one other strong efficiency, even tossing in some Eurostep offense.
– Along with Butler lacking his sixth consecutive sport because of knee ache, Duncan Robinson missed his third consecutive sport because of an ankle sprain.
– A number of gamers who had been on the damage report because of damage or sickness had been cleared half-hour previous to tip-off, together with Strus, Martin, Herro, Cain, Jovic and Vincent.
– Nonetheless sidelined whereas working by means of knee ache is guard Victor Oladipo, who once more is touring with the crew.
– Smith performed because the Warmth’s first reserve, one other signal that Vincent’s left knee nonetheless isn’t proper.
– Highsmith performed because the Warmth’s second reserve, an indication that Jovic’s foot downside is a matter.
– Dedmon adopted subsequent, adopted by Cain.
– Adebayo’s first help was the 1,250th of his profession.
– Adebayo’s fifth basket moved him previous Hassan Whiteside for fifth on the Warmth all-time listing.
– Down on the farm, Warmth camp prospect Jamaree Bouyea continues to thrive with the crew’s G League affiliate, closing Saturday’s sport for the Sioux Fal;ls Skyforce with 27 factors, 13 assists and 10 rebounds.
– Bouyea is free to be signed by an NBA crew.
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