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MIAMI — Heat captain Bam Adebayo had a starring role in the Jimmy Butler Returns to Miami drama on Tuesday night. He was charged with defending his former teammate.
Adebayo performed his role admirably, helping contain Butler to 11 points as the Heat rolled to their second consecutive win with a 112-86 victory over the visiting Warriors.
“It was a lot of outside emotion around this game,” Adebayo said.
“I’m going to say for us because like I said before, we’re scrapping for wins. But there was a lot of outside emotion around it. To go out there and have that type of performance — you give guys a vision, you give guys belief, you want guys to play to a higher level. And they did tonight.”
Adebayo was crucial in the win, leading Miami with 27 points and adding eight rebounds. He said playing against Butler did not change his approach or his focus, even after he got an early dunk past his former teammate.
“I’m just glad we got the win,” Adebayo said. “I don’t care who we’re playing against.”
But the Heat captain’s early energy helped spur the team on, coach Erik Spoelstra said.
“The commitment to do a lot of tough things, so yes, he made some inspiring plays right out of the gate and that kind of energized and inspired the next guy to make a play,” Spoelstra said.
Andrew Wiggins, who came to Miami in the Butler trade, said Adebayo led by example.
“He went out there and he set the tone early with his physicality on both sides of the floor,” Wiggins said.
Spoelstra said it Adebayo, an NBA All-Defensive first-team pick last year, guarding teams’ best wings is not new, it just has not gotten much attention as the Heat have struggled.
“He’s taken on this challenge,” Spoelstra said. “It’s a new development and chapter in his defensive prowess. … We haven’t been winning, so no one notices.”
Adebayo said he is happy to take on the role, whether it is against Butler or other top wings around the NBA.
“I think it’s a part of my versatility,” Adebayo said.
“I feel like that just adds value to me, obviously. I’ve been doing that (for) quite some time with switching. But to start on primary wings is different. But like I said, the guy’s been through the trenches with us, so the utmost respect to him. I’m just glad we got the win.”
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Adebayo performed his role admirably, helping contain Butler to 11 points as the Heat rolled to their second consecutive win with a 112-86 victory over the visiting Warriors.
“It was a lot of outside emotion around this game,” Adebayo said.
“I’m going to say for us because like I said before, we’re scrapping for wins. But there was a lot of outside emotion around it. To go out there and have that type of performance — you give guys a vision, you give guys belief, you want guys to play to a higher level. And they did tonight.”
Adebayo was crucial in the win, leading Miami with 27 points and adding eight rebounds. He said playing against Butler did not change his approach or his focus, even after he got an early dunk past his former teammate.
“I’m just glad we got the win,” Adebayo said. “I don’t care who we’re playing against.”
But the Heat captain’s early energy helped spur the team on, coach Erik Spoelstra said.
“The commitment to do a lot of tough things, so yes, he made some inspiring plays right out of the gate and that kind of energized and inspired the next guy to make a play,” Spoelstra said.
Andrew Wiggins, who came to Miami in the Butler trade, said Adebayo led by example.
“He went out there and he set the tone early with his physicality on both sides of the floor,” Wiggins said.
Spoelstra said it Adebayo, an NBA All-Defensive first-team pick last year, guarding teams’ best wings is not new, it just has not gotten much attention as the Heat have struggled.
“He’s taken on this challenge,” Spoelstra said. “It’s a new development and chapter in his defensive prowess. … We haven’t been winning, so no one notices.”
Adebayo said he is happy to take on the role, whether it is against Butler or other top wings around the NBA.
“I think it’s a part of my versatility,” Adebayo said.
“I feel like that just adds value to me, obviously. I’ve been doing that (for) quite some time with switching. But to start on primary wings is different. But like I said, the guy’s been through the trenches with us, so the utmost respect to him. I’m just glad we got the win.”
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