Nearly three full years have passed since Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat appeared in the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets. As that digit continues to grow, so too does the frustration. Unfortunately, the Heat’s most recent loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night suggests that nothing will be changing anytime soon, turning Adebayo’s frustrations into legitimate anger.
When asked about his team’s seemingly never-ending push to free itself of the hassle that is the NBA’s play-in tournament, the three-time All-Star bluntly stated, in his most deadpan voice that, “I don’t want to be in this [expletive] anymore.”
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Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) looks for a foul call during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics.© Michael Laughlin-USA TODAY Sports
(© Michael Laughlin-USA TODAY Sports)
Mired in the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings, Miami is barely hanging onto its .500 record. “We’re better than being in the play-in in the last four years,” Adebayo said.
Apart from a lone trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, the Heat will play in nothing but home games for the next two weeks. According to the nine-year veteran Adebayo, that’s about as favorable of a stretch as you can find at this point in this season, making it a unique opportunity for them to “protect home court.”
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“We’ve already been struggling on the road, so we go home, win some games. Be in our atmosphere, be in our habitat, where our fans are cheering for us, and see if we can string some W’s together,” Adebayo said.
That sentiment was also echoed by the team’s star shooting guard, Tyler Herro, who, despite having his own struggles, asserted that “We gotta lock in” ahead of the upcoming home stretch.
That may be easier said than done, especially considering the fact that the Heat will have to host an ascending Detroit Pistons team, as well as an Orlando Magic squad that has had their number in recent years. Still, Miami’s upcoming back-to-back against the lowly Brooklyn Nets should cushion its record a bit.
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The same holds true for the March 10 matchup against the Washington Wizards. But before the Heat can begin to worry about any of that, they’ll first have to handle the Houston Rockets, who own the third-best record in the Western Conference. Simply put, the Heat may not be out of the woods just yet, but there are certainly better days ahead for Adebayo and his crew.
Miami hosts Houston at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday.
Related: Heat Announce Norman Powell Injury Update After Leaving 76ers Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.