The Miami Heat could use all the inspiration they could get as they look to find a way to pull off a first-round upset against the powerful Boston Celtics. Perhaps Bam Adebayo getting an official nod as a finalist in the 2023-24 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award could provide a spark for him and the Heat, who lost in the series opener versus the Celtics on Sunday on the road, 114-94.
Miami Heat Big Man Bam Adebayo Makes Final Cut for 2023-24 Defensive Player of the Year
On Sunday, the NBA released the finalists for the major individual awards in the league this season, with Adebayo joining San Antonio Spurs super rookie Victor Wembanyama and three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the final cut of nominees for the honor.
Adebayo has never won a DPOY award in his career in the league thus far, and even though he’s a finalist, he appears to still be a long shot to win one this season, as Gobert and Wembanyama are ahead of them in terms of betting odds.
Nevertheless, Adebayo will have to use every ounce of his defensive abilities in this series versus the Celtics, who are stacked with great scoring options, including his big man counterpart Kristaps Porzingis, who had 18 points in Game 1.
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