I posed the following question to the staff at the last round table.
It was Bam Adebayo a Celtics Killer in the past What can Boston do to limit his effectiveness?
Gregory Manikis
Doc Rivers hired as a consultant to file a complaint with the PAM League of illegal screens? Dump your old friend Grant Williams for a match or 2? Or even crazier, dusting off old buddy Blake Griffin for two charges? In all seriousness, Bam is real trouble and has gone to work against the top C-men in the past. On paper, Horford and Rob should be able to minimize his point output, but Pam’s real effectiveness lies as a blockbuster and playmaker, especially from the elbow moves Heat loves to run. The elbow motions are a real pain to deal with when you have someone of Bam’s talent acting as a pivot. He makes great reads, puts up solid screens, and can create his own shot if the defense overreacts to anyone flying off that screen. If The Heat doesn’t overuse these actions so C’s can hold their tendencies, this will be a key element of the Heat’s attack when they need a bucket. (an average)
Ruby Urs
I hate to double down on my point, but I truly believe that whether or not illegal screens are called out (or what leeway is in terms of screen setup) is a pivotal factor in Bam’s success. They get such a pick-and-roll advantage, and a lot of that is due to the amount of space they create on Bam’s screens. However, Al will probably spend the most time on it, and I can imagine Grant Williams getting some running in as well. Rob may have a hard time guarding Pam in pick and roll motions, so watch out for him. I worry about Pam, but I also worry about Stross and Vincent and Robinson. I’m afraid of everyone.
Benjamin Torbert
As others have mentioned, Adebayo’s skill as a (illegal) examiner is his most dangerous. It arms as a lob threat, short roller, mid-range shooter and arcade shooter. Thus, I would like to see the Celtics get away from playing a lot of low coverage and lean into their ability to switch and vary across positions. The Heat are at their best when they’re a swirl of off-the-ball movement and 3-point shooting. Switch most of the action and Adebayo ball screens and force Adebayo and Butler to mismatch the chase and play more isolation ball than they’d like, and I think it plays into the Celtics’ favor.
William Weir
Make him a scorer. Yes, this is kind of playing with fire and it definitely has some backfires, but it’s not about how he or Heat want to play. Much like Spo would do everything he could to make the Celtics uncomfortable, this is a version of that for the Celtics. Point Bam is a competitive nightmare for most teams and can cause all sorts of problems. However, his temptation to become a scorer against a facilitator leaves Miami having to change their game plan and I don’t think they have as much variety as the Celtics do to adapt quickly. The higher Bam’s FGAs the more chances he likes for the Celtics.
Trevor Haas
I don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world for the Celtics if Adebayo has something like a 26-5-2 game. If he had, say, an 18-14-8 match, that would probably be more problematic. He’s at his best when he plays like Draymond Green with a jacket. Anything is better than letting Jimmy Butler get hot, and that includes making Adebayo a top scorer. Reducing catches near the free throw line is key, as is timing their doubles well but not over assists. Adebayo is a great player, but after taking on Joel Embiid in the final round, it won’t look so intimidating.
Tim Shiels
I honestly think the best thing Boston could do is challenge Pam as the shooter, and try to neutralize their actions with him. What ultimately made the difference in Boston’s defense against Philly was the breakup of the pick-and-roll game between Harden and Embiid. Miami presents a similar problem. Adebayo is a frequent (moving) checker, so Boston has to be prepared to handle that, whether calls go their way or not. Forcing Bam to make his own players, it’s definitely better than the alternative of him reaching the basket or the defense collapsing on the drive and finding a wing shooter because of it. Having Robert Williams in the series will help, especially if Boston returns to using him as a runaway
Harris Rubinstein
I’ve watched every game the Heat played in this playoff, mostly because I just thought the Celtics were going to see them again at this point and I can confidently say this is the best Bam Adebayo they’ve faced. The stats may not be there, but his impact in these qualifiers has been outrageous and I think a lot of it has to do with momentum and energy. Bam is their motivation on both ends, he’s the engine that really makes the Jimmy Butler car work. I think it all starts in offensive boards with second chances. Allowing him to feed the Miami shooter extra shots and get those free tips or go on the dunk he likes so much that kills both Bucks and the Nix. When he starts getting OREBs, his energy goes up and suddenly Bam’s defensive tornado starts spinning and absorbing everything in his area. Dominate him on the boards, force him to fight for every bounce and try to wear him down on the boards. The Celtics, perhaps for the first time against Miami, have an oversize advantage just about everywhere. Use it!
Adam Taylor
Much of what Boston did against Joel Embiid in the latter part of the second round would help against Bam. Getting consistent assists to the nails, digging from the wings, and fluid ball pressure (sometimes for a drop, other times for touch) will give the Celtics a chance to contain Adebayo. It is worth remembering that Bam is a great all-rounder with ball-handling skills and a reliable jumper. So having it contain offense would be the best you could ask for. With Bam on defense, the Celtics will need to be fearless in attacking him, and look to get him off the paint whenever possible.
Daniel Burke
The advantage of having a player like Bam Adebayo is that his versatility makes it virtually impossible for him to plan out. He can simply do so much on both ends of the court that it becomes irrelevant. The goal, though, should be to limit his chances of catching and painting – he’s too adept at scoring and spreader to be allowed to run freely down the line. If there’s a weakness in his game, it’s basically ineffective as a scorer from over 15 feet away. Pushing him to those distances will be crucial – Al Horford and Robert Williams III will be full.