The Miami Heat seem to have found the fiery streak of form which saw them participate in the finals last season. Thanks to exemplary performances from Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, the Heat raced on towards the playoffs with a win over the Blazers on Sunday.
It was a great defensive effort from the Miami outfit as they forced 17 turnovers in the game. A combined effort from everyone resulted in the Blazers succumbing to unrelenting pressure. In the post-game press conference, Jimmy Butler said that it elated the team that they did not give the Blazers any unnecessary shots.
He said, “We did a great job shutting down Derrick Jones Jr. We wanted to lock that sh*t up for good.”
Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat carry on with a resounding victory
The Heat capitalized on the defensive frailties that were on display during the game. They made shots when it mattered the most, which helped them in extending the gap between the two sides. Critics and analysts have predicted that these two sides might meet in the playoffs. If that happens, the Miami Heat will be confident about coming out as victors.
Bam Adebayo was the star of the show as he finished with 22 points to his name. The 23-year-old also racked up three rebounds and two assists during the game. Apart from him, Jimmy Butler was back to his best as he scored 20 points for his side. Furthermore, He also contributed by scoring five assists and four rebounds in the match.
In the post-game press conference, his performance impressed Adebayo. He said, “We were just trying to really hone in on defense. In fact, we just really felt with this team that’s how you win. We were also able to get stops and get into transition and get a few dunks. That’s why we won by a lot.”
The Miami Heat are fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. At the moment, they are well in contention for the playoffs. Moreover, with players like Adebayo and Butler finally finding their form, the Heat will look forward to the postseason.
