Erik Spoelstra highlighted Bam Adebayo's impressive performance after the Miami Heat beat the Chicago Bulls to secure the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Last season, the Heat made it to the NBA Finals but lost to the Denver Nuggets after getting the No.8 seed.
They will be the eighth seed again for the playoffs, starting against the Boston Celtics, whom they defeated in the Conference finals last season.
Jimmy Butler was unable to play against the Bulls on Friday due to injury, but Adebayo scored 13 points and also defended Bulls star DeMar De Rozan.
Espn was told by Spoelstra that they needed inspiration, and Adebayo provided it, especially with Jimmy being absent. Both of them are their most inspiring players and always have been.
Spoelstra said, “When they’re fully focused on competing, we feel like we can beat anybody. I had to, with Jimmy out.
“We believed DeRozan could take over a game in one game. If our most inspiring player needs to make an impact, it should be against their best scorer.”
Butler is unlikely to play against the Celtics, and Spoelstra has not yet thought about how to contain Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Spoelstra mentioned, “I haven’t even thought about that.”
“This was for this kind of deal, to set the tone for the game, to help alleviate any stress or pressure from anyone else in the locker room, Bam had to be that, which he was.”
Adebayo said about the Celtics series, “It’s going to be a tough battle, dirty and not pretty basketball.”
“That's how it usually goes when we play that team,” said Adebayo.
Erik Spoelstra highlighted Bam Adebayo's impressive performance after the Miami Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls to clinch the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Heat went all the way to the NBA Finals last season, ultimately losing to the Denver Nuggets, after securing the No.8 seed. And they will be […]
