NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HEAT VS. CELTICS

May 29, 2023

Bam Adebayo

Miami Heat

Game 7: Postgame

Miami Heat 103, Boston Celtics 84

Q. If there was one constant this season, it probably was never losing faith even when there were a lot of moments when it might have been easy to lose that faith. What's it like from up 3-0 to 3-3 to come into a game like this and to wind up back in the NBA Finals?

BAM ADEBAYO: We never thought it would be easy. Going through these playoffs, going through this season, up and down, good, bad, through the adversity, still nobody let go of the rope. So biggest thing for us, I'm happy the way my teammates played the way they did. Caleb definitely made a name for himself, and obviously Jimmy is being Jimmy. The biggest thing for us is just keep going.

Q. You mentioned Caleb. He came a couple votes away from winning the MVP trophy tonight. What did he mean throughout the series, especially on the offensive end, where he seemed to have a drive or a shot or a three for every Boston push?

BAM ADEBAYO: Like I said, a lot of people don't see the work that Caleb put in. Y'all see it now because he's playing out of his mind, but after that Game 7 -- (checking phone) it's not my mom. It's not my mom. (Laughter.)

After that loss, I feel like he made it a necessary effort to really come back and be like, I'm going to be a reason why we win a series or be a reason why we win big games. He showed that throughout this whole series, and I'm truly proud of him. One, he's from North Carolina, so just representing North Carolina is a good thing for us. But also he gets the opportunity to, one, win an Eastern Conference championship, and two, he gets to play in his first Finals.

Q. Why was that belief after Game 6 and the way it ended so strong internally?

BAM ADEBAYO: Going into the series, we thought we were going to Game 7, anyway. But you know, things work out different. Stuff happens and we end up in a Game 7, like everybody thought it was going to happen.

Biggest thing for us, I feel like we never quit because that's just who we are. Everybody has a story, a background of going through certain situations, certain ups and downs in their lives and still pushing through and getting an opportunity. You look at our roster, and there's a lot of guys on our roster that have pushed through to make themselves have a great opportunity.

Q. Looking ahead, obviously it's going to take everybody lifting up their own games, but in your mind, what is the key to slowing down Jokic?

BAM ADEBAYO: Making him take tough shots. The biggest thing for us is try to limit his assists. It sounds easier said than done. But biggest thing for us is watching film and figuring that out.

Q. What is your favorite trait about this team, this year's team? What do you like most about it?

BAM ADEBAYO: Favorite trait? Man, it's that underdog mentality. I know we say it. I know people think it's a joke. But when you go through what we went through this whole season, ups and downs, people talking good and bad about us, writing us off, hearing all that noise, and to be four games away from a championship just speaks volume to, one, we never quit, and two, everybody rallied together.

Q. You guys win three out of the four games in this building. What is it about playing on the road that seemed to bring the best out of you guys in this series?

BAM ADEBAYO: We've been the 8 seed all playoffs. So you know, you have to will wins in other buildings. The biggest thing for us, we always stay together when it matters most. Just being together, being in those moments where back's against the wall and everybody is going against you, I feel like that's when it brings out the best in us.

Q. Is it extra sweet this way to be able to accomplish it on the road in their building, especially what happened after last season, too?

BAM ADEBAYO: Yeah, I wish we didn't go to a Game 7, but that's the way the script was written. So the biggest thing for us, man, we took an opportunity and really cherished it and pushed through and made our way.

Black lives matter, people.