‘The Media Ain’t Dogging You,’ ‘Stop It’ — Stephen A. Smith Rips Bam Adebayo for Dodging Accountability Amid Miami’s 0–4 Start
· Yahoo Sports
The Miami Heat’s Giannis Antetokounmpo era has tipped off on a rocky note, as the team went 0-4 on Monday night with an 113-109 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
In their worst start since they dropped the first five games of the 2007-08 season, Bam Adebayo has struggled, finishing with 8 points on 3-of-10 shooting and missing all five of his 3-point attempts against the Mavs.
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After the game, he addressed the criticism that has followed him through the slide, and Adebayo’s remarks about being a ‘scapegoat’ drew a sharp reaction from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who rarely minces his words.
Stephen A. Smith Has a Blunt Message for Bam Adebayo
Smith spoke directly to the three-time All-Star about the coverage and about Adebayo’s partnership with Antetokounmpo, who arrived in Miami in a blockbuster offseason trade.
“Bam Adebayo, will you stop, bro? There’s a difference between the media and social media. I’m in the media. Have you heard me say a word about Bam Adebayo?” Smith asked, and was just as direct about the record and the scrutiny that came with it.
“We ain’t tripping over four games into the season… We know once your shot starts falling that y’all are going to be big time… Stop it. Stop the (expletive) and whining and talking about the media,” he continued.
“The media, we don’t feel that way. We know you’re great. I’m not tripping over a 0-and-4 start. As long as you ain’t falling for the hockey-dockey talk about ‘Oh, the media, the media,’ the media ain’t dogging you. They got to report what’s happening in the moment because it’s a soap opera.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has started Antetokounmpo and Adebayo together in all four games, alongside Davion Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins, and Klay Thompson.
The skid began with a 131-106 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 21. Adebayo scored 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting that night but finished with a team-worst minus-28. Two nights later, he could only manage 4 points on 2-of-6 shooting before fouling out during the 128-111 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
The big man bounced back with a season-high 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in a 115-110 loss at the Charlotte Hornets on October 24.
Spoelstra also offered his read on Adebayo’s woes and said, “He had some good, clean looks (but) just wasn’t able to capitalize on them. But I know his makeup and his resiliency. We’ll work together to find a way to get him aggressive in his spots where he’s comfortable.”
Carrying the offensive load of a 0-4 Miami team, Antetokounmpo’s production has not faltered, as he has scored at least 29 points in three games and is averaging 28.5 ppg so far.
But the former Milwaukee Bucks star is most effective attacking the basket, highlighting Miami’s need for reliable shooters to punish opponents when they collapse into the paint.
Through four games, Adebayo is averaging 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds on 40% shooting. But from beyond the arc, he has gone 3-of-18 (16.7%), on 4.5 attempts per game. Besides Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and Tim Hardaway Jr. have also struggled from deep, shooting below 20%.
The Heat get their next shot at a first win Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena, and a positive result will do much to elevate the locker room mood in Miami as they look to get their season on track.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.