
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 17, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo (13) wears a shirt that says ÒVOTEÓ during warmups before game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2020 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

USA Today via Reuters
Sep 17, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo (13) wears a shirt that says ÒVOTEÓ during warmups before game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2020 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Entering the NBA Finals as the Eastern Conference champions, the Miami Heat posed a serious threat to the Los Angeles Lakers. But during Game 1, they had multiple injury concerns. Veteran guard Goran Dragic and young All-Star Bam Adebayo had to leave the game due to injuries.
Unlike Dragic, Adebayo was able to return in Game 4, but he was clearly not at his best. Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen later spoke about how Bam’s level wasn’t good enough for the Finals but also acknowledged that this was because Adebayo was fighting through his injury.
“To me, he looked about 75%,” Pippen said. “When you’re talking NBA Finals, you have to play 110% and we have yet to see him be pretty much 100%... When Bam shows up, this series will be a different series… Bam has yet to raise his level of play, and I think a lot of it is because of the injury he took in Game 1.”
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Can the Miami Heat cling on without Bam at his best?
Pippen also commended Bam for giving his best but maintained that the Heat would need more, especially against an opponent of such caliber.
Pippen said, “The injury he took was earlier in the series and it took him out of the series for the first two-and-a-half games. I think the most important thing is that he tried to give his best effort in last night’s game. But his best effort wasn’t good enough, and he has to play at a superstar level to give the Miami Heat a chance to win.”
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USA Today via Reuters
Sep 6, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra reacts as he talks with forward Bam Adebayo (13) during the second half of game four of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
While facing Anthony Davis, the Heat need a capable defender to stop him. Adebayo could have been that player, but his injury has slowed him down. The Heat now have Kelly Olynyk and Meyers Leonard to guard Davis. This is a mismatch the Lakers should love.
Even when he wasn’t at his best offensively, Davis had a good game on Tuesday. He finished with 22 points while shooting 50% from the field, including a dagger that sealed the game. He also had one steal and four blocks during this all-round performance.
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USA Today via Reuters
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) celebrates after making a three-pointer during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat in game 4 of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Friday could be the Heat’s last game in the Finals. Unless they find a way to stop Davis, they could be flirting with a loss.
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