Jimmy Butler Praise Aside, Miami Heat Need More Scoring From Bam Adebayo Against Milwaukee Bucks

Jimmy Butler said all the right things.

After the Miami Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls Friday to advance to the playoffs, Butler was overly complimentary of center Bam Adebayo.

"The reason I really loved Bam is because even though you don't make shots you can affect the game in so many different ways," Butler said. "That right there is the definition of a star player, superstar, All-Star, whatever you want to put onto it. Seventeen rebounds, he had one block but it was the best defensive play of the entire game and when you lock in on the defensive end like that, that's the part that gets everybody excited, gets everybody doing the right thing. I hope he makes every shot come Sunday but if he doesn't and has another game like this, it's going to be the reason that we win."

That's what good teammates do. They find the positive in everything, especially in victories.

Now the reality.

At the end of Butler's postgame press conference, he said the team needs to forget about the play-in tournament. And that's exactly what Adebayo should do because the Heat need more scoring from him if they are to have any chance against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.

Adebayo averaged just 10 points on 42 percent shooting the past two games. That's not enough to defeat Milwaukee unless Max Strus averages 31 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo plays like Bulls guard Zach LaVine did last night the entire series. The series starts today in Milwaukee.

"Just because the game isn't only depending on shots falling, I felt like I had a big impact on that game," Adebayo said Friday night.

Indeed.

But the Heat need All-Star Adebayo to compete against the Bucks or else it's a quick, early exit from the postseason.

MORE HEAT-RELATED STORIES

Max Strus, Jimmy Butler lead Miami Heat into playoffs. CLICK HERE

How Miami Heat Twitter reacted to win against Bulls. CLICK HERE

Playoff schedule for Heat vs. Bucks. CLICK HERE

For a look at some of the latest Heat apparel. CLICK HERE

If you wanna bet on any games at @PrizePicks or PrizePicks.com, use our link and code. They will match your first bet for up to $100. Here's the code: PR-R1YOFY6

Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

TWITTER: @ShandelRich

Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here

For any Heat or NBA questions, please email shandelrich@gmail.com