For all of the numbers that doomed the Miami Heat of their expensive defeat Wednesday evening in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers, together with their season-high 24 turnovers, there was one quantity much more stark within the field rating.
Because there wasn’t any quantity there, in any respect.
For the primary time since his rookie season, when he nonetheless was an understudy to Hassan Whiteside in 2017-18, Heat heart Bam Adebayo went with no defensive rebound. Adebayo’s lone rebound within the 104-100 loss got here with 1:57 to play on the offensive finish.
For Adebayo, who’s averaging 9.5 rebounds this season, together with 7.0 on the defensive glass, it was a baffling statistical anomaly.
“The rebounding gods weren’t on my side,” he mentioned.
But the Cavaliers’ focus was, as coach J.B. Bickerstaff famous afterward relating to his pregame instruction to Cleveland heart Jarrett Allen.
“It was a message that was sent to Jarrett,” Buckerstaff mentioned forward of the groups’ rematch Friday evening at Miami-Dade Arena. “We know what Bam was going to do and how aggressive he is on the glass and how he can hurt you on the offensive glass in particular, giving his team extra possessions and then putting you under more foul pressure, also. So J.A. took it to heart.”
Allen closed with a game-high 12 rebounds, however deflected credit score from shutting down Adebayo.
“Honestly, sometimes, honestly, the ball just doesn’t bounce your way,” Allen mentioned, “and I think that was part of the case tonight. And we just tried to make an effort to try to keep the ball out of his hands.”
The lone rebound was the fewest for Adebayo since he had one on Jan. 19, 2019 in opposition to the Chicago Bulls. But the 28:42 performed Wednesday evening was essentially the most he has performed with out getting a couple of rebound.
What remained a continuing for Adebayo in opposition to the Cavaliers was his offensive effectivity. In closing 8 of 11 from the sector Wednesday evening, he now’s taking pictures .653 in 17 profession appearances in opposition to the Cavaliers.
Butler’s reasoning
Considering he closed with a game-high 26 factors, together with powering his technique to a 12-of-15 efficiency from the foul line, there was no postgame questioning of Jimmy Butler utilizing the Heat’s time off Tuesday to fly cross nation to Los Angeles for Pau Gasol’s jersey retirement by the Lakers.
Gasol and Butler have been teammates firstly of Butler’s profession with the Chicago Bulls.
“Very important for me,” Butler mentioned of his journey whirlwind. “Pau has been a brother to me from clearly our Chicago days. He actually taught me be a professional, what it’s like being a champion, and me desirous to get there someday. And I wouldn’t miss that for the world.
“I miss him, as I tell him all the time. We stay in touch all the time. And I’m sure I’ll see him this summer, whether it be in Cali, in Spain. Somewhere, somehow, I’ll find some time to sit down and have some dinner with my guy.”
G League updates
Center Orlando Robinson, with solely 4 NBA days remaining on his two-way contract, mentioned the plan is for him to return to the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, on Saturday.
The Skyforce have six regular-season video games remaining,
The Skyforce are in sixth place within the G League’s Western Conference, with the highest six groups in every convention advancing to the playoffs . . .
Heat rookie huge man Nikola Jovic is coming off a two-game rehab stint with the Skyforce, having been sidelined since late December with a again difficulty.
After going for 12 factors, 9 rebounds and 4 assists on Monday evening for the Skyforce, Jovic, the No. 27 decide in final June’s NBA draft, on Wednesday evening had 26 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for Sioux Falls.
Injury report
Kyle Lowry (knee) once more is listed as out for Friday, with Kevin Love (rib) listed as possible. Jovic stays on his G League project. Those are the one three gamers on the Heat damage report.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com