Adebayo vows to ‘be aggressive’ vs. Embiid
PHILADELPHIA
As Joel Embiid
watched his 76ers wither in the first two games of this playoff series — and Bam Adebayo punish his team with 47 points and 21 rebounds in those games — Philadelphia’s MVP candidate became increasingly agitated.
“It was very annoying [watching the first two games],” Embiid said late Friday night, after delivering 18 points and 11 rebounds and an emotional lift to his team in a 99-79 win against the Heat in Game 3, a victory that positioned the 76ers to tie this best-of-seven series with a win on Sunday night at Philadelphia.
“We didn’t make a lot of shots, made a lot of mistakes. Bam was dominating. I was really pissed off watching another big guy play well against my team.”
So once he cleared concussion protocol on Thursday, Embiid knew it was time to return.
He said he always knew he would play at some point in this playoff series, despite having two significant medical issues: a fractured orbital bone (the more significant injury) and a torn ligament in a finger. But the fact the 76ers were down 0-2 accelerated the timetable.
“If we had been up 2-0, I’m not sure,” Embiid said. “That gives me more time to get back to myself, but this fracture is not going to heal for a couple weeks. It’s not going to change anything in my life if I play now or in Game 3. Down 2-0, I had to do everything possible to be out there no matter how I was feeling.”
Wearing a cumbersome mask to protect his orbital fracture, Embiid motioned for a towel twice in the first three minutes to wipe the perspiration from his face. Did the mask affect him?
“I airballed a wide-open shot, so that’s the answer to that question,” he said.
Adebayo said Saturday he loves playing against Embiid. But he must play better.
In Game 3, Adebayo produced nine points and a season-low three rebounds, on 2 for 9 shooting, with three turnovers, in 33 minutes of Game 3.
“I’ve got to get my teammates easier baskets, get the ball moving more,” Adebayo said Saturday after a practice at Wells Fargo Center. “If we’re stagnant, then [Embiid is] going to be in the paint and can be as effective as possible. I’ve got to set better screens for my teammates.”
Though the 7-1 Embiid has a four-inch height advantage, Adebayo insisted that Embiid’s size does not — and should not — affect Adebayo’s offensive approach.
“I mean he’s 7-1,” Adebayo said. “If he stands on the goal, obviously he’s going to be effective. Just trying to get him off the [basket area] and continue to try to get my teammates easy layups. I’ve still got to be aggressive.”
When Embiid guarded Adebayo on Friday, Adebayo shot just one for five with three points, no assists and two turnovers in those 33 possessions.
By comparison, Adebayo has 15 points (on 6 for 7 shooting) in this series against DeAndre Jordan, who started the first two games in Embiid’s absence and didn’t play at all on Saturday.
Adebayo has 15 points (6 for 9 shooting) when Tobias Harris covers him and seven points (3 for 7) when James Harden defends him in switches.
Was the opportunity to be aggressive simply not there in Game 3?
“They definitely made an emphasis to not let the pocket pass go through,” Adebayo said.
Adebayo wasn’t pleased with the three-rebound game Friday but said, “I’m boxing out the bigger dude on the court. So if P.J. [Tucker] gets eight and we win, I’m not mad.”
Tucker had eight rebounds but the Heat lost by 20 and were outrebounded 44-35 overall.
At least Adebayo played well defensively. In parts of 28 possessions guarding the 76ers MVP candidate, Embiid had three turnovers, an assist and seven points on 2 for 3 shooting.
LOWRY’S SCORELESS RETURN
Heat guard Kyle Lowry didn’t expect to be at his best in his return from a strained left hamstring.
But he also didn’t expect to finish without a point.
Lowry, 36, returned from a four-game absence to finish the Heat’s Game 3 loss on Friday scoreless in 25 minutes. It marked his first game action in two weeks since injuring his hamstring in Game 3 of the Heat’s first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks on April 22.
“I just got to find a rhythm,” Lowry said. “I didn’t expect to be amazing [on Friday]. I didn’t expect to have zero points. But just trying to get a feel for the game, just be out there, especially in this hostile situation. I wanted to be out there with my group.”
How did Lowry feel physically following his return?
“I’m OK,” he said. “If I’m on the court, I’m not going to make any excuses. I’m all good. I’m healthy as I can be right now. When I get back, I’ll get some treatment and
I’ll be ready to go on Sunday.”
Friday was only Lowry’s fourth scoreless playoff game in his NBA career. He hopes to finish with more points and more minutes in Game 4.
“Hopefully my hamstring kind of reacts well enough to continue to push at it and go,” Lowry said. “Everyone knows hamstrings are difficult injuries and I’ve never had any soft tissue injuries. So I’m going to figure it out.”
INJURY REPORT
The Heat listed seven players as questionable for Game 4: Dewayne Dedmon (head cold) Tyler Herro (left ankle sprain), Lowry (left hamstring strain), Caleb Martin (left ankle sprain), Max Strus (right hamstring strain), Tucker (right calf strain) and Gabe Vincent (right knee irritation). All are expected to be available to play on Sunday.
The 76ers listed Embiid (facial fracture and right thumb sprain) as questionable for Game 4. He’s also expected to play.
GAME 5 TIME SET
Game 5 of the series will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at FTX Arena.
If a Game 7 of the Heat-76ers series is needed on Sunday, May 15, it would be played at either 3:30 p.m. on ABC or at 7 or 8 p.m. on TNT, depending on whether other series are ongoing.