NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 9, 2023

Bam Adebayo

Miami Heat

Game 4: Postgame

Denver Nuggets 108, Miami Heat 95

Q. Bam, Coach Spo said that you guys thrive off of this adversity; you guys like to do things the hard way. Looking at a 3-1, what is it about this adversity that brings out the best in you guys?

BAM ADEBAYO: Our whole season hasn't been easy. We just seem like we just -- we won't quit. And I feel like that's what he means. We just will not quit.

Q. You guys got a series-high makes at the rim and they also had a series-high makes at the rim. Why were you guys able to get more going downhill, but then why were they responding in turn with their own kind of downhill easy looks?

BAM ADEBAYO: Spo definitely made it an emphasis to attack the rim, to really get to the rim, me and Jimmy, everybody included, really get downhill and make things happen.

For them -- where is it? (perusing stats). I feel like they got a lot of rim attacks off of minor mistakes, lack of communication and certain skirmishes.

Q. This series, you've only shot the ball 50 percent only once in the second half. How do you get yourself going to finish the game strong?

BAM ADEBAYO: Keep going. That's the biggest thing for me. Keep forcing that, keep getting to the line, see the ball go in and live with the result.

Q. Spo was just in here talking about how the only goal is to get the series back to Miami, but how challenging is it to not look at the overall task in front of you and take it one game at a time in this situation?

BAM ADEBAYO: That's how you do it. You take it one game at a time. We've seen a team come back from 3-0 firsthand. So we just have to believe, and one game at a time.

Q. What was the message in the locker room amongst the players after the game?

BAM ADEBAYO: Amongst us? A lot of people pissed off. But biggest thing is, first to four. That's the biggest thing, first to four. We take it one game at a time and we figure this thing out.

Q. I know you guys are taking it one game at a time, but in terms of just getting a win, what are some things that you guys either want to carry over or fix, and what's the first step in getting that first win for you guys?

BAM ADEBAYO: I feel like the first thing is getting downhill, and then you live with those results. If our shooters are open, kick it out to our shooters and then make shots. Then get back on defense and make them take tough shots.

Q. Following up on that, you said kick it out to shooters, but they have really taken Gabe and Max out of the game the last couple games. Max had that first quarter in Game 2 and has not done too much outside of that. What are you seeing that's making it so hard to get those guys open in the last couple games?

BAM ADEBAYO: Watch film. Figure it out. It's a lot of stuff going on in the game. They got a lot of responsibility, and I'm proud of them taking it to the chin. They are going to keep fighting and they are going to keep trying to figure it out, and I believe in them.

Q. You ended up with seven turnovers tonight; rare to see you with a number that high. What were they doing defensively just to kind of force some of those mistakes, not just from you, but from everybody?

BAM ADEBAYO: Obviously having those turnovers can't help us win. Biggest thing for me is watch film, figure out how can I be better.