After making the NBA Finals the season prior, it was championship or bust for the Miami Heat last season. Instead, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Co. fell to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks – the team they demolished in the playoffs the season prior.
Adebayo was vocal on how their shortcomings have made them hungrier than ever. In a recent interview with Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, the All-Star center talked about channeling the same energy that fueled Giannis and the Bucks.
Via Miami Herald:
“A chip will make a monster,” Adebayo said, referring to the Heat's motivation drawn from last season’s disappointing playoff showing. “[Udonis Haslem] was preaching that to us the whole year, that [the Bucks] had a chip on their shoulder. They went and got Jrue Holiday, who was a great asset to their team.
“They had a chip on their shoulder,” continued the Heat star. “So you 4-1 somebody the season before and they were the No. 1 team in the East. Just think about that. That whole summer, they were probably like, ‘Yo, we were the No. 1 team and got 4-1. We were the No. 1 team and got 4-1.’”
With the addition of Kyle Lowry, and an expected bounce back season from former playoff hero Tyler Herro, the Heat are poised to emerge as one of the frontrunners in a suddenly loaded Eastern Conference playoff race. Bam Adebayo will be at the center of it all – monster chip on his shoulder ever present.
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