NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HEAT VS. CELTICS

May 19, 2023

Bam Adebayo

Miami Heat

Game 2: Postgame

Q. How much of this almost feels like more of the same, so many of these games during the regular season, finding a way to will to the finish, what's it like now when you get to a game like this, knowing that you can get it done because you've done it so many times, no matter the opponent or the venue?

BAM ADEBAYO: Like I said, I said this countless times, just being in those situations 50-plus times during the regular season, that just brings great experience for us. For us to be able to will out this win, this is a good one for us.

Q. You saw some doubles in the last game and you were able to make plays, and after that, were you expecting single coverage in this game? And when you do get single coverage, do you feel an added weight to make some plays and create some shots just for yourself?

BAM ADEBAYO: No. Spo gave me ultimate clarity, "Be you." For me, that's simple enough. He wants me to be aggressive and he wants me to score.

Like I said before, before Kyle was hating that one time, I'm a great passer.

Q. Obviously you know Grant, and obviously Jimmy is your teammate, but what was your view of that head-to-head confrontation between the two of them and how much do you think that fueled Jimmy going down the stretch?

BAM ADEBAYO: I feel like things like that always fuel Jimmy. I feel like he starts it so it can get him more in the competition. You see down the stretch what he was doing.

Q. You were down 12 twice tonight. So you talk about being able to thrive in those close games, but you had to get there first. Do you think that you are forcing the Celtics into the mistakes that are happening that allow you to get back into these games?

BAM ADEBAYO: I feel like we're forcing them into difficult shots. Trying to make them turn the ball over. But the biggest thing for us, we're making shots. I don't know why we keep wanting to get down 12 every once in a while, but it seems like guys just stop playing and just really want to hoop. We will wins. We willed our way back down from 12 twice and got the W.

Q. This is nothing new for Caleb, but what did you think of his response to Boston putting Rob on him?

BAM ADEBAYO: One thing Caleb told me was, "This is not last year." That really resonated with me, because they did the same thing to him last year. I feel like he felt like it was disrespectful.

That's it? Black lives matter, people.