“Don’t overthink the game, man. My shot just isn’t falling,” Adebayo said. “The noise wants to blame me, but when the tide flips… when the vibe changes, be ready for it.”
Adebayo, now in the first year of a three‑year, $160.3 MM extension, thinks the press loves to tear him down in slumps and forgets to cheer when he shines.
“The media’s the media,” Adebayo added. “They dig you up when you’re down, then go silent when you’re up—just expect that.”
He’s only seven rebounds shy of surpassing Udonis Haslem‘s franchise total of 5,791 boards in a Heat jersey.
Here’s more on the Heat:
- Tim Hardaway Jr. celebrated a summer deal—one year, $6.5 MM—to join the club his dad helped steer to the 1997 Eastern Conference finals. Yet he’s sputtering, hitting five of 25 shots in the opening four games. Last season in Denver he posted 13.5 points on 44.7% shooting and remains convinced a bounce‑back is near. “Everyone’s searching, trying to create their own offense instead of letting the system dictate,” Hardaway told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “I’d love to find my rhythm, but right now it’s about the little things and the flow will follow.” For my money, Hardaway can rediscover his groove soon.
- Pelle Larsson, Bobby Portis, Dru Smith and Hardaway came off the bench for coach Erik Spoelstra on Monday, while Nikola Jovic sat out, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. Jovic, who appeared in the first three contests, is in the first year of a four‑year, $62.4 MM extension.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, averaging 28.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, still hunts his inaugural victory with Miami. “We all need to breathe deep and eventually figure it out,” Antetokounmpo said to Chiang. “Pressing the panic button only makes things worse. Keep playing, feel the moment, and when we turn it around I’ll remember this feeling and fight not to return to it.”
- Miami’s injury list is thin for Wednesday’s trip to Atlanta. Simone Fontecchio is doubtful with an illness and didn’t travel, Chiang reported. Larsen (ankle sprain) is listed as probable. Will the Heat stay healthy enough to snap their slump?