Miami Heat fans, the preseason vibes at Kaseya Center are feeling a bit uneasy after Bam Adebayo’s sluggish start in the team’s 103-93 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on October 6, 2025. With the Heat banking on their All-Star big man to anchor both ends of the floor—especially with Tyler Herro sidelined for at least a month due to ankle surgery—the early returns are raising eyebrows. Bam’s 1-for-8 shooting through two preseason games, paired with visible discomfort on offense, has sparked murmurs: Is this just rust, or is the pressure of being Miami’s offensive linchpin already weighing him down? As the Heat aim to claw their way into Eastern Conference contention in a post-Jimmy Butler era, let’s dive into the concerning signs, the realities Miami faces, and what Bam needs to turn it around—plus a look at how Kel’el Ware and Norman Powell fit into this puzzle.
Cleveland Cavaliers v Miami Heat – Game Three
Let’s start with the raw numbers from the Bucks game: Bam Adebayo logged 16 minutes, scoring just 5 points on 1-of-3 shooting (3-of-4 from the free-throw line), with 1 block but a glaring 5 turnovers. Combined with his first preseason outing against the Orlando Magic, he’s now 1-for-8 from the field, a far cry from the 20.4 PPG (51.3% FG) he averaged last season, when he also canned a career-high 35.7% of his 221 three-point attempts. His offensive malaise isn’t new—last year’s first half saw him in a similar rut, averaging a career-low 19.3 PPG on 49.9% shooting, particularly struggling inside the arc (lowest two-point percentage of his career). Against Milwaukee, he looked hesitant, forcing drives into crowded paint without the fluidity of his 2023-24 All-Star campaign (22.2 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 3.9 APG).
The context matters: Miami’s offense is in flux. Tyler Herro, the Heat’s primary shot-creator (23.9 PPG, 47.2% FG, first All-Star nod in 2024-25), is out until mid-November after September 19 ankle surgery, leaving a void in perimeter creation. The Heat ranked a dismal 21st in offensive rating last season, and with Herro gone, Bam’s being asked to shoulder more playmaking (4.1 APG in 2024-25 playoffs) alongside his Defensive Player of the Year-caliber rim protection (5 blocks, 2 steals in a Play-In win vs. Atlanta). Add in the integration of Norman Powell, acquired from the Clippers for his 21.8 PPG and 41.8% three-point shooting, and it’s clear Bam’s adjusting to a new offensive rhythm. Powell’s off-the-dribble scoring (48.4% FG) is a boon, but his one-dimensional style (weak defensively) and Miami’s guard injuries—Davion Mitchell (calf), Kasparas Jakucionis (wrist), Pelle Larsson (quad), Terry Rozier (hamstring)—mean Bam’s often isolated as the focal point.
Why the struggle? Pressure’s a factor. Without Herro or Butler (traded to Golden State in February 2025), Bam’s the undisputed leader, but his offensive game isn’t built for No. 1 option status. His post-ups and face-up drives often end in contested shots or turnovers (2.2 TOV per game last season), and his free-throw reliance (75.7% FT, not elite for a big) isn’t sustainable without star calls. Erik Spoelstra’s new 16-second shot-clock philosophy pushes a faster pace, but Bam’s looked clunky transitioning from defensive anchor to offensive hub. Last season’s offensive woes—exacerbated by no true facilitating guard—persist, and Bam’s discomfort syncing with Powell’s iso-heavy style or Nikola Jović’s playmaking (9 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists vs. Bucks) suggests chemistry issues.
The bigger concern: Bam’s role as the lone center is unsustainable. At 28, he’s a defensive juggernaut (5 All-Defensive Teams, 1.1 BPG career), but Miami’s lack of frontcourt depth—exacerbated by Kevin Love’s trade to Utah—leaves him overtaxed. Kel’el Ware, the 21-year-old rookie who started 36 of 64 games last season, offers relief with his rim protection (double-double threat, All-Rookie Second Team) and budding three-point touch, but Spoelstra’s opted for Jović over Ware in both preseason starts for better floor spacing (Jović’s 38.3% 3PT on 6.5 attempts per 36 minutes). This leaves Bam battling bigger centers like Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez or Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr. without consistent help, risking burnout. Last year, Bam and Ware’s two-big lineups showed defensive promise but clogged the paint offensively (Miami’s 21st-ranked offense). Spoelstra’s zone-heavy scheme (most in NBA) leans on Bam’s versatility, but asking him to roam, switch, and carry the offense is a recipe for exhaustion.
Solutions? Simplify Bam’s offense. His 2024-25 three-point leap (221 attempts, 5x his prior career high) was encouraging, but he’s not a primary creator. Spoelstra must scheme more pick-and-rolls with Davion Mitchell (elite on-ball defender, improving shooter) or Jaime Jaquez Jr. (versatile glue guy) to free Bam for lobs and midrange looks, not bully-ball isos. Starting Ware alongside Bam could ease defensive pressure, letting Adebayo roam as a “perimeter sweeper” while Ware (7-footer, elite motor) handles rim duties. Ware’s playoff struggles against Cleveland’s bigs exposed his rawness, but his lob-finishing and occasional three-point range (still “conceptual”) complement Bam better than Jović’s wing-like game. Powell’s scoring (41.4% 3PT) can stretch defenses, but his defensive lapses mean Bam can’t slack on that end either. Miami’s youth—Jović (new $62.4M extension), Jaquez, Ware—offers upside, but without a true point guard or another star, Bam’s carrying too much.
The East is forgiving—Boston’s roster implosion (Tatum’s Achilles, no Horford/Porziņģis) and Philly’s injury concerns open a top-6 window—but Miami’s 37-45 record last year and play-in status scream “prove it.” A 2-6 or 1-7 start without Herro looms, with tough early road games (six of first eight). If Bam doesn’t shake this funk, Miami risks sliding below .500, especially if Powell (32, not a defender) and Wiggins (inconsistent scorer) can’t fill the void.
Bam Adebayo’s preseason struggles—1-for-8 shooting, turnover-prone, visibly off—aren’t panic-button territory yet, but they’re a red flag for a Heat team leaning on him as their cornerstone. The pressure of filling Herro’s offensive void, adjusting to Powell’s style, and anchoring a thin frontcourt is real. Miami needs to simplify Bam’s offensive role—more screens, fewer isos—and consider starting Kel’el Ware to preserve his defensive dominance. The East is winnable, but without a sharper Bam, the Heat’s contender dreams could fizzle fast. Fans, is this rust or a deeper issue? Should Spoelstra lock in Ware as the starting center? Drop your takes, lineups, and predictions below—let’s heat up the debate!