Bam Adebayo didn’t exactly tell the NBA what it could do with its fine for the Miami Heat’s lack of bench decorum, nor did the fifth-year center offer to foot Micky Arison’s bill.
But Adebayo said Sunday he had no issue with the league taking notice, because he pridefully has taken notice.
Ahead of Sunday night’s Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals at FTX Arena against the Boston Celtics, Adebayo was asked about the league on Saturday sanctioning the team $25,000 for players on the bench who during Friday night’s Game 6 at TD Garden, “stood for an extended period in Miami’s team bench area, stood away from the team bench, and were on, encroaching upon or entering the playing court during live game action.”
“At the end of the day,” Adebayo said, “it just shows how much support your teammates have for you, to the point we get fined.”
To Adebayo, such passion should be rewarded (although it did appear players on the Heat bench were attempting to influence the outcome of Celtics shots).
“But that’s just the will to win,” Adebayo said after Sunday morning’s shootaround. “Everybody on the sideline wants us to win, and I’ve got some of the best teammates.”
Among the most energetic players on the Heat bench has been captain Udonis Haslem, who went into Sunday without having played a minute this postseason.
“We’ve been relying off him,” guard Max Strus said ahead of Sunday’s game. “He’s our motivator. He gets us going and he’s been huge. He’s been huge for us.”
Adebayo said what Haslem has lacked in playing time he has made up with assisting in the video room.
“Watching film with him is exciting and also a headache at times,” Adebayo said with a smile. “Watching film with UD, he just breaks it down before the play happens.”
The Riley influence
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Heat president Pat Riley has been a comforting ally throughout the postseason, but not in the regard some might assume.
“They’re not skull sessions like we’re watching video and a whiteboard,” Spoelstra explained after the morning shootaround.
“But I love those moments in between. I love it on the road. We just hang out in my suite sometimes with a bottle of wine and just kind of BS. Kind of need some of that during the playoffs, and just not always be talking about, ‘What’s the scheme on this? And what’s the play we’re running?’ You’d be shocked how little Pat and I talk about that kind of stuff.”
Speaking of spirits, Spoelstra said Heat icon Dwyane Wade has been a similarly comforting resource.
“Dwyane just knows when,” Spoelstra said. “He’s not pestering you all the time. With me, it’ll be we exchange texts maybe every few weeks. But it’s always at the right time and it’s the right message. He has an incredible feel for that.
“Dwyane sent a bottle of his Wade Wine. I sent a note back saying I wanted the top-shelf stuff, not the stuff that everybody gets. So, still waiting on that.”
On the call
Weston resident Mark Jones, who had been scheduled to handle Sunday’s national radio coverage for ESPN, instead was shifted to the network’s play-by-play, with Mike Breen entering NBA protocols.
Also, Heat Spanish radio play-by-play man Jose Paneda returned to Sunday’s call at FTX Arena after being away from the team in protocols, contributing remotely.
Meaningful moment
Adebayo said his first career Game 7 resonated even before the opening tip.
“You can’t take this moment for granted,” he said. “At one point, the ball will stop bouncing for all of us. So every time I get a new experience in basketball, I always get butterflies and I always get the sweats. It’s one of those things I’m just grateful to be out there.”
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