The matchup between Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo will decide the NBA Finals
This year’s NBA Finals gives us the opportunity to watch a great matchup at the big man position. With Anthony Davis on the hunt for a championship, the grit and toughness of the Miami Heat‘s defense will be a challenge of its own. The one player in Miami that will challenge Davis throughout this series will be Bam Adebayo. It’s also a matchup that could end up deciding the series.
Both big men are active amongst their team on both ends of the floor. They both can be dominant under the basket and have guard-like tendencies creating opportunities off the dribble. As the series begins, both teams should look to their big man early in the game to set the tone. If one has an advantage early in the game, it could be a long night for the opposing player.
Both Davis and Adebayo will have a tough matchup guarding one another.
More from Sir Charles In Charge
- Dillon Brooks proved his value to Houston Rockets in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
- NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
- Golden State Warriors: Buy or sell Chris Paul being a day 1 starter
- Does Christian Wood make the Los Angeles Lakers a legit contender?
- NBA Power Rankings: Tiering all 30 projected starting point guards for 2023-24
Let’s start with Davis on offense. The key for Adebayo is to limit Davis’ opportunities around the basket. Although Davis is a great perimeter shooter, the Heat can live with him shooting jumpers most of the game. Davis is a monster in the painted area and it could result in a Los Angeles Lakers blowout if he is getting good looks around the rim.
For Adebayo on offense, he thrives in the fastbreak and his energy is what gets him going on both ends of the floor. Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals showed that when Adebayo is active on the floor, he can have a monster performance. It is up to Davis as the defensive anchor to keep Adebayo in control.
Controlling the glass and not allowing him to get going is the key to the Lakers winning. Limiting Adebayo from being active on the floor is what can rally the Lakers to an NBA Finals victory.
Neither player will not be able to stop one another. But the key for both guys is to contain each other. Davis and Adebayo understand that their roles on this team are pivotal in route to a championship.
This is their first NBA Finals in their careers so there is no edge that one has over the other as far as experience. The one player that plays the best out of the two will be the one holding the trophy at the end of the series.