NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HEAT VS. CELTICS

May 17, 2023

Bam Adebayo

Kyle Lowry

Miami Heat

Game 1: Postgame

Miami Heat 123, Boston Celtics 116.

Q. The run that the bench or the others put in when you were down by 71-59, and the importance of the other players, regardless of how great Jimmy and Bam are playing.

KYLE LOWRY: Yeah, I think the one thing about our team is Jimmy and Bam, they are going to lead us and they are going to be the guys who take us there, honestly. And the others, they give us the confidence to go out there and shoot shots, be aggressive, be assertive. That's all that matters. These guys give us the confidence. We just step up for them and make sure that we make their jobs a little bit easier.

Q. Similar to the Game 1 against New York, you guys gave up 40 in the paint in the first half and then you cleaned it up again in the second half. What are you guys adjusting at halftimes of these games to protect the paint better?

BAM ADEBAYO: We have a great video group, and they put up all the stats at half. Basically show us where we were wrong and how we can improve in the second half.

So after watching it and talking to the coaches, we are honest with one another, look each other in the eye and say how we feel and what we need to get done.

Q. Kyle, you've obviously known Jimmy awhile, but played with him the last couple years. What is it like playing with him right now when he's playing at this high of a level consistently?

KYLE LOWRY: It's fun. Bam says it's amazing. I think it's great to be part of this run he's been on since, I don't know how long it's been now. But that's what he does. He's one of the best players in the world for a reason.

It's just a joy to watch it. For a guy that wants it so bad and works so hard at his craft, it's important to enjoy his success. He gives us all the confidence to be successful and be aggressive and be assertive. That's what makes him special, that it's not all about him. He's about our group and our team and everyone else.

Q. Three straight series, three straight road wins at the start and three straight times of reclaiming home-court advantage --

BAM ADEBAYO: Jesus, bro.

Q. You took home-court advantage, sorry. The way your team has come out three straight opening statements; how about that?

KYLE LOWRY: We just go out there and try to win basketball games. At the end of the day we are the 8 seed, so we are on the road. We've got to go out there and try to win games on the road. We don't have the advantage of having four games at home, so we've got to go out there and try to win games on the road.

BAM ADEBAYO: We find ways to win.

Q. What's the difference in the way Boston defended you today compared to your first two playoff opponents, and is it calling you to be more of a scorer in this series, as opposed to a playmaker because of the way they are defending you?

BAM ADEBAYO: My teammates want me to be aggressive first. They start us in the double, I'm a phenomenal passer, so that's when I can make the extra pass or -- (laughter).

KYLE LOWRY: That's great but I'll take it. One assist tonight?

BAM ADEBAYO: I had more assists than you.

KYLE LOWRY: You had the ball more than me.

BAM ADEBAYO: Anyway.

KYLE LOWRY: "Phenomenal passer."

BAM ADEBAYO: Phenomenal passer. So I make the right plays and I make the right reads.

Q. I know your role in the offense has been more of a facilitator and things run through you more this year, but compared to the last Conference Finals against the Celtics, it wasn't like that a year ago. So you in this role now, how does that change the complexion of this series?

BAM ADEBAYO: I've gotten so much better since last year, making reads, being aggressive, knowing the time to score. Just the whole overall of the game, I feel like I've gotten better. So it's a different me playing than it was last year.

Q. Understanding there's an element of make or miss to everything, why or how do you think this team continues to be able to find a way to tap into such elite and timely shot-making?

KYLE LOWRY: Like I said, we got two guys, our stars, that give us all the confidence that we need. I'm dead serious. Jimmy and Bam and these guys and our coaching staff, and we know the work that we put in. When you have guys that are so unselfish and give us the confidence to do it, we are going to do it. We don't want to let them down.

Even if we miss shots, they are still like, shoot it again. That gives us all the confidence that we need. Honestly, Max, big shots. Gabe, huge shots. Caleb, big shots. It's just about us continuing to be ready and prepare to make plays with those guys to make their job easier.

Q. So much is said about teams peaking at the right time. Okay. So much is said about 8 seed, both of you guys. You're an 8 seed but you're certainly not playing like an 8 seed. You're one of the best teams in the league right now. Can you talk about how it's evolved and that you do have that, in addition to having a chip on your shoulder?

BAM ADEBAYO: I would say that everybody counted us out from the beginning was kind of what builds that chip. But also the adversity that we've been through the whole season, the ups and downs, the games we should have won but didn't win. Going to the locker room and trying to figure it out, rewrite whatever we did wrong, and going through that put us in this position.

Now I feel like we are, like you said, one of the best teams in the league, because adversity built this. We all looked each other in the face and said, this is the second Play-In game, this is our last run. This is it. From there, man, I just felt like everybody just bought into that will. I feel like we've just been willing wins.

KYLE LOWRY: Great answer, man. Thank you, guys.

BAM ADEBAYO: Black lives matter.