Bam Adebayo feels the Miami Heat's critics are determined to make him the "scapegoat" for their 0-4 start to the season, but he is confident things will change for the team soon.

Miami fell to a 113-109 defeat against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, with Cooper Flagg putting up 29 points and P.J. Washington and Kyrie Irving adding 20 and 18 apiece.

Giannis Antetokounmpo also tallied 29 points for Miami, but Adebayo's difficult season continued as he only managed eight points, three assists and missed all five of his 3-point attempts.

He is averaging just 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds on 40% shooting this season, though he feels the criticism he has received has been over the top. 

"You know, it's funny how the outside noise wants to make me the scapegoat," he said. "But when the tables turn, just all that energy, when the energy shifts... be prepared for that.

"I've got expectations for myself, but, obviously, the outside noise has got expectations for us. So, for me, I know what I'm capable of. I'm not going to overthink that. 

"We're 0-4 right now. I'd rather it happen right now than this be midway through the season or in April. 

"Because what if we go on a 10-game winning streak? Then how does the noise change?"

Continue to forge ahead  https://t.co/XSxG5raBEf

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 27, 2026

Asked if Antetokounmpo's arrival from the Milwaukee Bucks had impacted his role negatively, Adebayo insisted that was not the case, saying he simply needed to be more accurate with his shooting.

"This year, I'm just taking more 3s. That's really it," he said. "But like I said, it'll fall, and when it does ... we'll see a shift."

The Heat are back in action against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, before taking on the Indiana Pacers in their first NBA Cup game on Friday.