MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 8: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat handles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs on October 8, 2019 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

Using NBA 2K20 to predict the Miami Heat vs San Antonio Spurs by Duncan Smith

Just a few months ago, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich cut Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo from Team USA en route to a seventh-place finish. On Wednesday, Bam gets his chance to fire back.

Team USA had an inauspicious outing this summer. Countless stars opted out of playing in the FIBA World Cup, and other stars in the making ended up not making the cut and getting a shot on the team. Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo was one of those players who worked out with the team but ended up getting sent home by Team USA’s head coach, Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs.

It’s almost impossible to believe at this point. Team USA stumbled through the competition with bigs like Brook Lopez and Mason Plumlee making it over Adebayo. They ended up finishing seventh, the worst finish for a Team USA entry in an international competition.

Since then, Adebayo has shown himself to be a serious All-Star candidate. He’s putting up outstanding numbers, averaging 15.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists to go along with 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, and his Miami Heat are in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 27-12 record.

It would be hard to top what he’s done so far this season, but the San Antonio Spurs come calling on Wednesday night and a win against Popovich could only improve things for Adebayo.

Via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:

He said “I wasn’t ready,” Adebayo told me. “Everybody has their opinions, so I guess it was his opinion I wasn’t ready.” Did Pop say anything else? “Nah,” Adebayo said. Adebayo’s reaction? “Whatever. I got a big season coming up and I shifted my mindset to worrying about the season.”

Adebayo’s perspective is admirable. It might be a bit hard to believe though. On a team with Jimmy Butler as its emotional leader, it’s not likely any score goes unsettled.

With the aimless way the Miami Heat have played lately, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them take offense to Gregg Popovich’s decision to cut Bam Adebayo for him.

Motivation is important as long season winds on. Giving a beat down to the Team USA coach that cut their teammate might be just the thing this team needs right now.