Bam Adebayo, Erik Spoelstra reveal secret to five-game skid

With The Miami Heat are looking to snap a five-game losing streak opener against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, the team finally put together a performance that showed some improvement, winning 106-95. As it is The Heat were led by Norman Powell against the Nets, star Bam Adebayo and head coach Erik Spoelstra find out what led to victory.

During a five-game losing streak and losing six of their last seven games before the win against Brooklyn, the team’s offense slowed after being the fastest-paced team in the league while also being the NBA’s best scoring team. It wasn’t a perfect night on offense once again, but one area where Miami saw improvement was their defense, an area the team is known to excel at.

Holding the Nets to less than 100 points, opponents also shot 39 percent from the field and 22 percent from the field as team captain Adebayo he would say the defensive side is why they won, according to The Miami Herald.

“We hang our hat on that side,” said Adebayo, who had eight points, 17 rebounds and three blocks. “That’s why we won today, we had stops. And the offense wasn’t pretty at times, but at the end of the day we had stops. So if we can stop them more than they stop us, then we have a good chance to win.”

Erik Spoelstra on the Heat’s defense

While it is The Heat continue to deal with injuries Tyler Hero, Nikola Jovic and others, it will take more time for the offensive side to be 100% comfortable with each other. Still, the defensive side of the ball was one to watch as Miami held Brooklyn to a season-low in scoring, the second time the Heat have held a team under 100 points, making it 2-0 when that happens.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra would talk about the defensive effort, likening it to a “comeback” type of play.

“I thought there were some really good things defensively,” Spoelstra said. “It was a defensive game for us to hold them under 100 (points) and under 40 percent (field shooting).”

With both teams completely ineffective on offense, the Heat would get key performances, especially down the stretch, from some, such as Powell, who finished with a team-high 24 points. Among the others was the notable exception of Kel’el Ware, who started and recorded 22 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks to go along with Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s 19 points.

“I was as curious as probably most of Heat Nation was about how we were going to finish it offensively, and I thought there was a good process,” Spoelstra said. “Guys stepped up and made some big shots. Kel’el played well down the stretch. Norm just calmed us down in key moments. Jaime pitched in.”

Miami is now 15-12 with little time to rest as the team takes on the Boston Celtics on Friday night.