{"id":6911,"date":"2024-12-02T13:58:45","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T13:58:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=6911"},"modified":"2024-12-02T13:58:45","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T13:58:45","slug":"bam-adebayo-calls-out-miami-heat-teammates-after-119-116-loss-to-toronto-raptors-the-biggest-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=6911","title":{"rendered":"Bam Adebayo calls out Miami Heat teammates after 119-116 loss to Toronto Raptors, \u2018the biggest thing\u2019.."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Bam<\/p>\n

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Miami Heat dropped a road game to the Toronto Raptors to fall back to a 9-9 record for the season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ahead of a tough match-up against the Boston Celtics in a repeat of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals,\u00a0Miami Heat\u00a0warmed up in the worst way possible.<\/p>\n

The Heat lost 119-116 to Toronto Raptors, with RJ Barrett putting up 37 points for the home team, and 23 from Scottie Barnes.<\/p>\n

Tyler Herro scored 31 for the Heat, with\u00a0Jimmy Butler\u00a0only going for 17, matched by Terry Rozier\u2019s\u00a0contribution from the bench.<\/p>\n

Toronto came out hot, winning the first quarter 34-24, and kept on top, and even an eight-point winning margin in the fourth for the Heat was not enough to rescue the game.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Bam Adebayo calls out teammates<\/h2>\n

Speaking post-game in the locker room,\u00a0Bam Adebayo\u00a0called out a lack of defensive effort from his team.<\/p>\n

Adebayo explained: \u201cI feel like we didn\u2019t give enough effort, trying to impose our will on that end, and then we tried to rely on scoring to bring us back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just got to get back in transition, that\u2019s the biggest thing, we were scoring or miss a shot, they were taking off running and we didn\u2019t get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThat side of the ball really matters to winning, it contributes to winning, defense wins championships and we can\u2019t get over that hump unless we all buy in.\u201d<\/p>\n

These comments shine a light on the Heat\u2019s performance, and really show why they are .500 for the season.<\/p>\n

Tyler Herro added that the poor start cost them: \u201cWe didn\u2019t come out with enough energy and effort and that\u2019s the result you are going to get.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herro previously admitted that\u00a0starting games poorly has been an issue\u00a0for the team, while Jimmy Butler has\u00a0admitted the team\u2019s roster is not good enough.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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