Bam Adebayo
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Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo and head coach Erik Spoelstra got into a verbal altercation on the sidelines during the team's 136-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Miami Heat had one of their worst losses of the season, losing 136-11 to the San Antonio Spurs on March 25.
In the middle of the game, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra subbed out center Bam Adebayo, leading to the two going back-and-forth in a verbal altercation. After the game, the media asked Adebayo what caused the argument.
“You’ve seen what I’ve been doing the last however many games. You know, I don’t want to be in the play-in,” Adebayo said. “Some of that is, ‘yeah, he’s got to protect me from myself,’ but also, I don’t want to be in the f******* play-in. So every game I’m going to go out there and do the best I can to carry this team and force our way out of that.”
Against the Spurs, Adebayo struggled, finishing with his worst statistical game in March. He ended the game with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists on 5-17 shooting. He also shot 2-10 from three.
Bam Adebayo
GettyMiami Heat center Bam Adebayo had been on a hot streak, but finished the game against the San Antonio Spurs shooting 5-17.
As a team, the Heat finished shooting 40% from the field and 31% from three.
“We have to figure it out, because it’s not going to get easier,” Adebayo said. “We’ll really have to dig deep and figure out how to get this road trip. We only have 10 games left.”
Erik Spoelstra Explains his Side of the Fight With Bam Adebayo
Erik Spoelstra
GettyErik Spoelstra elaborated to the media about why he and Bam Adebayo got into an argument during their game against the San Antonio Spurs.
It takes two to tango, and that was certainly the case during the argument between Bam Adebayo and Erik Spoelstra.
However, Spoelstra explained his side of the argument with Adebayo, emphasizing the importance of doing what’s best for the team.
“I love that about Bam, he and I were barking at each other,” Spoelstra said. “That’s why I love him; I think he loves me (Spoelstra said while laughing). But even if he doesn’t, I have to do what’s best for the team. I don’t want to just play him 24 straight minutes every half.”
“Some of the minutes there would be a match-up, but it didn’t have to be all of the minutes for us.”
Spoelstra had played Adebayo for at least 30 minutes in seven consecutive games heading into the Spurs’ loss, where Adebayo played 29 minutes.
In the team’s previous game against the Houston Rockets on March 21, Spoelstra played Adebayo for 45 of the game’s 48 minutes. 45 minutes is Adebayo’s season-high and the second-most he’s ever played in a game.
The Miami Heat are in a Crucial Position with 10 Games Left in the Regular Season
Andrew Wiggins and Victor Wembanyama
GettyWith just 10 games left in the regular season, the Miami Heat are trying to avoid another play-in tournament appearance.
The Miami Heat are in the midst of a five-game win streak that’s immediately followed by a seven-game winning streak.
They are currently the tenth seed in the Eastern Conference standings after being as high as the sixth seed earlier in March. The Heat’s record is 38-34, tied with both the Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets.
Miami will face the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 25. A win could potentially move the team up to the eighth seed in the conference.