The Heat can always rely on Bam Adebayo to best represent the identity of the Heat, with his aggressiveness and this ability to not let go, as he showed again in Game 4 (20 points, 11 rebounds). Even if Miami finds itself in very bad shape in these Finals after losing its last two games at home to find itself trailing 3-1, do not count on it to give up arms.
The goal remains to do everything to save a first match point and send the series back to Game 6 in Miami. “It’s the first with four wins, it remains our mentality”, thus launched the pivot of the Heat.
“By any means necessary. We are going to go on the field, give it our all, and see how things will unfold. Nobody wants to be in that position, but we’ve been through so much adversity this season, who else but us could get out of such a situation? We have already struggled, the most important thing for us is to go on the field, to play basketball and to be clear about it.
On the front line against Nikola Jokic
As was the case in Game 2, it will go through a collective effort, in attack, but also in defense, because Bam Adebayo cannot contain the volume of play of a Nikola Jokic on his own. A permanent headache for Miami, which must also be extra vigilant when it is the Serbian pivot who has the ball in hand.
“As for their attack, everything is unpredictable. Jokic is a great passer, so when he has the ball in hand, everyone is on the alert. It won’t just be pick-and-roll. When no one moves and you think no one is going to cut, they will cut. When you think a player is not open, maybe he could be. I have a feeling that this is the biggest challenge we will face.”he added.
His challenge remains the toughest of all, facing a Nikola Jokic at the top of his game, who peaks at more than 30 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists on average over the first four games of these Finals.
“It’s really unique, because he brings a different style of play, and a different pace to the game. You can’t scout him. It’s like that. The most important thing for us is to force him to take and put difficult shots..
| Bam Adebayo | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | MIA | 69 | 20 | 51.2 | 0.0 | 72.1 | 1.7 | 3.8 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 6.9 |
| 2018-19 | MIA | 82 | 23 | 57.6 | 20.0 | 73.5 | 2.0 | 5.3 | 7.3 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 8.9 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 72 | 34 | 55.7 | 14.3 | 69.1 | 2.4 | 7.8 | 10.2 | 5.1 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 15.9 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 64 | 34 | 57.0 | 25.0 | 79.9 | 2.2 | 6.7 | 9.0 | 5.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 18.7 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 56 | 33 | 55.7 | 0.0 | 75.3 | 2.5 | 7.6 | 10.1 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 19.1 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 75 | 35 | 54.0 | 8.3 | 80.6 | 2.5 | 6.7 | 9.2 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 20.4 |
| Total | 418 | 29 | 55.4 | 12.9 | 75.5 | 2.2 | 6.3 | 8.5 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 14.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
