Bam Adebayo played a starring role in Team USA’s win over South Sudan at the 2024 Olympics but wasn’t quite as good against Puerto Rico on Sunday. Adebayo only recorded 3 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in the 104-83 win and was a bit embarrassed when the Miami Heat posted his stat line on social media.
“Y’all didn’t have to post my quadruple single.”
Y’all didn’t have to post my quadruple single 😭 https://t.co/trc8qLwYCA
— 13am Adebayo (@Bam1of1) August 3, 2024
Yeah, they really didn’t need to post that one. What is quite hilarious, is that the Heat’s X account didn’t post Adebayo’s stat line after the game against South Sudan. I would say pointing out that your star big man had a team-high 18 points to go with 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks in a game is a lot more ideal than putting this out. The Heat’s account then hilariously responded to Adebayo’s post.
“That quadruple single led to another USA W tho!”
Every small contribution counts I suppose, but the one who led Team USA to victory here was Anthony Edwards. The Minnesota Timberwolves star racked up 26 points as the U.S. overturned an early deficit to blow out Puerto Rico.
With that result, Team USA made it three wins out of three at the Olympics. All those were by double digits too, ensuring they finished as the top seed in the knockout bracket.
All the concerns raised regarding Team USA entering the Olympics seem like a distant memory at this point. They have been the best team in the tournament and I see another comfortable win on the cards when they take on Brazil in the quarterfinals.
NBA Analyst Says It Is Time For The Heat To Hand The Keys To Bam Adebayo
While Adebayo seems to be on his way to winning his second gold medal at the Olympics, it doesn’t look like he and the Heat are primed for success in the NBA. Despite being in the NBA Finals last year, they no longer appear to be a serious title contender and Ramona Shelburne feels the franchise needs to hand the keys to the three-time All-Star for that to change.
“I think they need to give the keys to Bam Adebayo. It’s been coming for a few years,” Shelburne said on NBA Today. “They’ve been built around Jimmy Butler, but Jimmy Butler has not been available. Some of that is just injuries, some of that is the way he manages his injuries and his time and approaches the regular season.
“But we have seen in these Olympics, Bam’s got a little more to his offensive game,” Shelburne continued. “Bam is such a great defensive player and he is, but the Heat were 21st in offense last year, they need more scoring. Bam is capable of giving them more scoring.
“When he’s out there, he can hit that three-ball now, he can hit the midrange, and I think he’s capable of more,” Shelburne added. “So, as soon as they start playing more through him, instead of just relying on Jimmy to be out there all the time and carrying them. That’s when this team really takes off.
"I think they need to give the keys to Bam Adebayo."@ramonashelburne on how the Heat can become contenders 👀 pic.twitter.com/wSFNXix5tL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 2, 2024
I do think it’s time for Adebayo, who averaged 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game in 2023-24, to take on a bigger load on offense. He is 27 years old now and is in his prime while Jimmy Butler will turn 35 next month.
Will Adebayo doing more on offense turn the Heat into a championship contender, though? I doubt it. They need another star alongside him and Butler to challenge the heavyweights in their conference in my opinion.
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