Adebayo displays his skill, versatility in loss
ORLANDO — There are several elements of this NBA transition that remain a work in progress for Miami Heat first-round pick Bam Adebayo. Confidence is not one of them.
Although he won’t turn 20 until July 18, the big man out of Kentucky very much feels he belongs in thisNBA setting, as the rookie competes in the Orlando Pro Summer League.
In action for the third time in as many days, Adebayo closed with 29 points, 11reboundsandtwo blocked shots in Monday’s 86-83 loss to the Indiana Pacers on the practice court of the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center, flashing some end-to-end dribbling and multiple Euro-steps along theway.
“He was what we like to say, one percent better,” said assistant coach Chris Quinn, who is coaching the Heat’s summer roster. “I thought he did a great job, a much better job of rolling to the basket. We were able to get him some easier looks thatway and also get him to the foul line. They had some big physical guys down there and he responded well to that.
“It can be a big asset if you have a big that can get a rebound, outlet and then bust up the court, get you in different situation.”
With Okaro White, the lone NBA veteran on the Heat summer roster, given the day off, Adebayo had the opportunity to be a focus of theHeat attack.
“It shows coach allows me to play free. He believes in me to make the right plays,” Adebayo said after a performance that included 13-of-17 shooting from the foul line.”
“Pat [Riley] and them said they were going to let me not be in a box. In summer league, I’m playing free I’m having fun.”
Summer league, of course, is a far different level than when the games start for real. But the No. 14 pick in last month’s draft is hopeful that this showcase and the Heat’s upcoming gamesat the LasVegassummer league will set the tone forwhatis to follow, nomatter the Heat regular-season mix.
“If I keep doing that I might get touches inthe real game,” he said. “If I can do goodwith the real touches, I might be one of those guys.”
White cautioned not to confuse confidence for arrogance.
“He’s athletic and he runs the floor well,” White said. “He keeps an open ear; that’s what I really like about him. He takes in what the coaches are saying and what I’m saying.
“Any advice he needs, he either goes to the coaches or come to me. He just competes. Whether he makes a turnover or mistake he’s always going to compete.”
Quinn said the plan is to push to maximize Adebayo’s summer.
“It’s somethingmaybe he hasn’t been asked to do in the past,” Quinn said of the high usage rate. “But we’re giving him the freedom to get the ball down low, to make plays for us. At the end of the day, wewant him rebounding, we want him defending. Those will be the things we focus on the most.”
But this also is about exploring possibilities when the score isn’t a primary concern. So several times Monday he took the inbounds pass on the defensive baseline and pushed the pace.
In addition to Adebayo, the Heat went with a starting lineup of Gian Clavell, Lamond Murray Jr., Justin Robinson, Zach Auguste.