Heat center Bam Adebayo dominated the first two games of the series against the Sixers, but Joel Embiid‘s return changed that, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. After averaging 23.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in Games 1 and 2, Adebayo put up nine points and three rebounds Friday night while shooting 2-of-9 from the field.
Embiid admitted being upset while watching Adebayo while he was sidelined with a concussion and a broken orbital bone and felt like he needed to make a statement in Game 3. Now it’s Adebayo’s turn to respond when the series resumes Sunday night.
“I still got to be aggressive,” Adebayo said after today’s practice. “That’s part of the game. You see different lineups, you see different personnel and then you’ve just got to adjust your attacks.”
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- Poor team chemistry was among the things that sank the Wizards after a 10-3 start, but the organization believes it has already made moves to fix it, per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Team president Tommy Sheppard thought the atmosphere in the locker room was better after Spencer Dinwiddie, Davis Bertans and Montrezl Harrell were moved at the trade deadline. More continuity next season could help, adds Hughes, who points out that Washington used a franchise-record 29 players this year and made significant roster changes twice in six months.
- Magic guard R.J. Hampton improved in some areas but regressed in others as he was asked to adapt to a new role this season, observes Khobi Price of The Orlando Sentinel. The addition of lottery pick Jalen Suggs and the late-season comeback by Markelle Fultz meant Hampton didn’t handle the ball as much as he did after Orlando acquired him in a trade midway through his rookie season. He also became less efficient in finishing at the rim, which caused his scoring average to fall to 7.6 PPG after averaging 11.2 PPG last year in 26 games with the Magic.
- The Hawks hosted six players in a draft workout Friday, tweets Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. On hand were San Francisco guard Jamaree Bouyea, Washington State big man Mouhamed Gueye and four wing players, Quenton Jackson of Texas A&M, Abu Kigab of Boise State, Kenneth Lofton Jr. of Louisiana Tech and Hunter Maldonado of Wyoming.
Why would the Hawks workout guys that wouldn’t get 10 day G League contract even if their G League team was decimated by covid protocols?
Embiid killed Bam. Jimmy Butler had to try carry them and he’s simply not good enough to do it all himself. Herro has great off the bench but as I said the undrafted/second round no body’s (Strus, Vincent etc) they would struggle in the playoffs in important games.
They haven’t played at this level of basketball or even the NBA level for very long and it’s a learning experience. The veterans usually do well in the playoffs with more physically and slow more defensive games. Victor Oladipo did well, they could really do with having Lowry back, but they should also give minutes to Markieff Morris and Duncan Robinson, dudes that have played in big games and made the right plays.
Danny Green in another example had a poor game 2 but game 3 was on fire.
Who does well in the post season is just as much about staying fit and healthy as having the better players. The Pelicans almost upset the Suns when Booker got injured. And with Embiid out we sucked and now it’s Lowry missing time and Embiid back and us winning.
Celtics are now having that issue with Marcus Smart having had Rob Williams just return also.
Really hoping Embiid doesn’t get overused, 30 minutes per night is plenty not 35-40 minutes please. We desperately need him to be available. Harden is starting to step up, as is Tobias.
Cmon Sixers lesh go
Everything I had said about the Heat’s rotation came into play. Has nothing to do with experience. It’s all matchup stuff that should be obvious, and as I said, it was dangerous to just continue what they were doing just b/f they won b/c at some point philly would make shots, even despite Doc Rivers, and that’s exactly what happened
Those other things for those teams can also be explained by matchup and rotation decisions, and also make or miss always comes into play