A look at the final minutes of Game 2, between Knicks and Heat, gives a fairly good overview of the physical dimension of this series. Bounce battles, downed players, maximum intensity…
We obviously do not reach the sometimes extreme levels of the 1990s. But this confrontation, which continues in Miami this evening (9:30 p.m.) for Game 3, still promises great fights.
At the fight with Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle in the rackets, Bam Adebayo can testify to that. This second round reminds him of 2020, in the Orlando “bubble”, and this NBA final lost against the Lakers during which he was injured. Hit in the shoulder, he had to skip two games against the Californians.
” It was probably one of the most physical series I’ve been on. But I can say that this series (note: against the Knicks) is quite comparable. They have guys attacking the circle, they throw themselves on the rebound. The most important thing for us is to do the delay screens and make sure we get the rebound “, notes the pivot.
His team is however dominated in this sector after two meetings: 48 rebounds captured at 39 in favor of the Knicks, then 50 at 34…
“ I have the feeling that the physical dimension only really comes into play when the ball is in the air, or when there is a ball on the ground. This is when the physical really comes into play. I feel like we’ve been battle tested and we’re ready “, continues Bam Adebayo.
To prepare as well as possible, the latter was able to take advantage of three days of rest before playing the next meeting. Ideal for treating a few sores, including for ” rest the hamstrings (Editor’s note: from which he suffers). It’s positive to go through days of work, guys get back in shape “, ends Bam Adebayo, while Jimmy Butler, injured in the ankle in the first game, has no intention of missing a second game in a row.
| 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.
