What Bam says he must do better against Embiid, 76ers. And Lowry reacts to scoreless game
Bam Adebayo made clear on Saturday afternoon that he loves the challenge of facing 76ers MVP candidate Joel Embiid.
But he’ll need to play better to continue enjoying the moment during this Heat-76ers second round playoff series.
After averaging 23.5 points and 12 rebounds in the first two games of the series - with Embiid sidelined - Adebayo produced nine points and a season-low three rebounds, on 2 for 9 shooting, with three turnovers, in 33 minutes of Game 3, while Embiid delivered 18 points and 11 rebounds.
“I’ve got to get my teammates easier baskets,” Adebayo said. “Adjust my screens and get the ball moving more. If we’re stagnant, then [Embiid is] going to be in the paint and can be as effective as possible. I’ve got to set better screens for my teammates, get bigger gaps so they can come off and either attack or hit the pocket, and we can make play plays from there.”
Though the 7-1 Embiid has a four-inch height advantage, Adebayo insisted that Embiid’s size does not - and should not - affect Adebayo’s offensive approach.
“I mean he’s 7-1,” Adebayo said. “If he stands on the goal, obviously he’s going to be effective. Just trying to get him off the [basket area] and continue to try to get my teammates easy layups. I’ve still got to be aggressive.”
When Embiid guarded Adebayo on Friday, Adebayo shot just one for five with three points, no assists and two turnovers in those 33 possessions.
By comparison, Adebayo has 15 points (on 6 for 7 shooting) in this series against DeAndre Jordan, who started the first two games in Embiid’s absence and didn’t play at all on Saturday.
Adebayo has 15 points (6 for 9 shooting) when Tobias Harris covers him and seven points (3 for 7) when James Harden defends him in switches.
Was the opportunity to be aggressive simply not there in Game 3?
“They definitely made an emphasis to not let the pocket pass go through,” Adebayo said. “That was one of the biggest things I noticed. Just adapting and trying to figure that out.”
Adebayo wasn’t pleased with the three rebound game Friday but said “I’m boxing out the bigger dude on the court. So if PJ [Tucker] gets eight and we win, I’m not mad.”
Tucker had eight rebounds but the Heat lost by 20 and were outrebounded 44-35 overall.
At least Adebayo played well defensively. In parts of 28 possessions guarding the 76ers MVP candidate, Embiid had three turnovers, an assist and seven points on 2 for 3 shooting.
LOWRY’S SCORELESS RETURN
Heat guard Kyle Lowry didn’t expect to be at his best in his return from a strained left hamstring. But he also didn’t expect to finish without a point.
Lowry, 36, returned from a four-game absence to finish the Heat’s Game 3 loss on Friday scoreless in 25 minutes. It marked his first game action in two weeks since injuring his hamstring in Game 3 of the Heat’s first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks on April 22.
“I just got to find a rhythm,” Lowry said. “I didn’t expect to be amazing [on Friday]. I didn’t expect to have zero points. But just trying to get a feel for the game, just be out there, especially in this hostile situation. I wanted to be out there with my group.”
How did Lowry feel physically following his return?
“I’m OK,” he said. “If I’m on the court, I’m not going to make any excuses. I’m all good. I’m healthy as I can be right now. When I get back, I’ll get some treatment and I’ll be ready to go on Sunday.”
Friday was only Lowry’s fourth scoreless playoff game in his NBA career. He hopes to finish with more points and more minutes in Game 4.
“Hopefully my hamstring kind of reacts well enough to continue to push at it and go,” Lowry said. “Everyone knows hamstrings are difficult injuries and I’ve never had any soft tissue injuries. So I’m going to figure it out.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra commended Lowry’s “warrior spirit” following Friday’s game.
“There are so many things that happen during the playoffs that are not exactly how you want it to play out,” Spoelstra said. You’re not going to have a perfect ramp and all that, but we need him. So he was able to get this game under his belt. He has such a long decorated playoff career. We do need that, particularly on the road. I think he’ll be in much better rhythm in the next one.”
GAME 5 TIME SET
Game 5 of the series will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at FTX Arena.
If Game 6 is needed, it will be at either 7 or 8 p.m., next Thursday in Philadelphia, depending on the length of the Dallas-Phoenix series.
If a Game 7 of the Heat-76ers series is needed on Sunday, May 15 at FTX Arena, it would be played at either 3:30 p.m. on ABC or at 7 or 8 p.m. on TNT, depending on whether other series are ongoing.
If both the Heat-76ers and Celtics-Bucks series go seven, ABC would opt to carry the defending champion Bucks’ Game 7 at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, with the Heat’s Game 7 that night on TNT.
The NBA released more than a dozen scenarios explaining when the Eastern Conference Finals will begin. What’s certain: They will start either Sunday, May 15 or Tuesday, May 17.
This story was originally published May 7, 2022 at 3:34 PM.
