The Miami Heat are officially locked into the Play-In Tournament, but that hasn’t stopped them from sending a statement. On Friday night, they dominated the New Orleans Pelicans in a 153–104 blowout, led by a standout performance from Bam Adebayo — who afterward drew high praise and a notable comparison with Chris Bosh from head coach Erik Spoelstra.
Adebayo, who has evolved significantly throughout his career, has seamlessly transitioned to playing more as a power forward this season. He’s expanded his offensive game with a developing three-point shot, and Spoelstra has taken notice.
“It’s always a process when players add a new dimension to their game,” Spoelstra said postgame. “Bam was already working on this two years ago. It took some time to feel comfortable shooting it in a game.” Spoelstra even likened Adebayo’s progression to that of Hall of Famer Chris Bosh, who famously extended his range from midrange sniper to three-point threat during his tenure with the Heat from 2010 to 2016.
“It’s a little bit different because CB was already a really good 17-, 18-foot shooter right out of the gate,” Spoelstra explained. “Coming into the league, that’s what he did — face up, hit shots from the elbows and midpost. By the time he got to us, it was just a matter of extending it to the NBA three-point line. We really started him from the corners.”
While Spoelstra noted that Bosh and Adebayo have different skill sets, he emphasized their shared mindset. “They’re kind of different players,” he said. “Bam came in as a dominant effort and energy defender, a winning player, a lob threat. Then he developed ball-handling and facilitating skills that were different from what CB had.”
“But what’s common between both of them is a commitment to constant evolution and improvement. That’s what I really appreciate about Bam. He just goes to work. He always adds new things that can help the team.”
Adebayo is now making a legitimate case as one of the NBA’s most efficient high-volume three-point shooters among big men. After hitting just 23 threes over his first seven seasons, he’s found a groove in Year 8.
In Friday’s rout of the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center, Adebayo knocked down a NBA career-high four threes on six attempts. Since January 29, he’s gone 50-of-115 from beyond the arc, good for an impressive 43.5% over a 34-game span. With Adebayo adding a reliable long-range shot to his already versatile skill set, the Heat may be entering the Play-In with more upside than most anticipated.
