[Owczarski] Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on the criticisms of Bam Adebayo’s 83 points: “I apologize to absolutely no one. Period.”
Spoelstra making his case to join the WWE
Eric “the zombie” spoelstra Maybe they could call him the zombie maker or something cooler sounding
I think that would make him the Necromancer
Call him Sung Jin-woo
He doesn’t like Za Zombie. Call him Kuristina.
“I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, I’d like to take this chance to apologize… to absolutely nobody!”
Not a fan of what Connor McGregor has become but this line after winning his second belt was cold af.
I’m sorry I let Bam score all those points…
Sorry I didn’t do it earlier!
“the double champ does what the fuck he wants”
Incredible line with even better delivery. Easy now to forget how charismatic he was
He just became a worse version of the shitty person he always was.
the what felt like a heartfelt build was so good lmao;
“I’ve spent a lot of time, Joe, slatin’ everybody in the company. Backstage, I’m starting fights with everybody. I’ve ridiculed… everyone on the roster!”
Or running for president
You mean MMA…
Kobe fans: Just apologize!
Erik Spoelstra: * Shakes the hands of a Laker fan * I’m sorry……..
Other Kobe fans: Yeah! That’s right. Spoelstra’s cool!
Erik Spoelstra: ….. that Washington sucked so much that Bam Adebayo was able to score 83 points.
Lakers fans: Visible disappointment.
Love a coach standing up for his player
If Doc Rivers could read this, he’d be very upset
Steve Kerr is reading this and threw Kuminga under the bus again
Steve Kerr is a funny case though because Draymond could literally kill a guy on the court and Steve would dodge questions about it in the post game presser.
“I didn’t see that”
“Taking his actions out of context is unfair and I won’t do it”
“Coach, he literally shot up a school”
coughs and takes a deep breath …yeah I can’t comment on that until we review the tape after shootaround tomorrow morning , I’ll get back to you on that one”
(Nobody will ever ask him about this again)
But he would note how unprofessional it is for video of that to leak to the public.
Kerr knows Draymond’s fragile ego can’t handle anything remotely negative being said about him.
Thibs asked a player to read this for the full 48.
You know, he’s not an actual doctor.
Doc is trying to find a player to blame for this comment.
Standing up for common sense too…?
If Kobe were alive, would he be out there throwing shade on a player breaking his record? If so, I’d call that pretty soft, that to me is the opposite of “Mamba mentality”… pretty crazy to watch his stans shit all over his own legacy, but here we are.
Kobe would call him a bitch if he stopped at 80 or 81 lmfao
“huh, why’d he stop? pff”
That’s what’s extra crazy about this whole thing, Kobe fans love talking about “Mamba mentality”, but Bam stopping because he’s thinking about someone else’s legacy is the opposite of Mamba mentality. Bam went out there and challenged himself to do what no one had in 20 years, and he had a chance to stop at 81, but he said fuck that and went for 83. That’s mamba mentality.
Eminem wouldn’t vibe with Stan, just like how Kobe wouldn’t vibe with the annoying Stans on this issue.
Jamal Shead burner?
Mostly standing up for himself. Idk why anyone would give Bam shit, it’s the coach who kept him in during garbage time and directed his players to foul to stop the clock.
And standing up against general stupidity too, I can’t believe there’s this many people really madface about this I’m convinced it’s all trolling
Spo would have fit in with 90s ball back in the day. When coaches would slow down the game to a crawl by employing the hack-a-shaq as a way to stop the once unstoppable big man down low. The opposing coaches would say, ‘I apologize to no one. It’s a perfectly legal play.’ And then the game would end like with a 82-76 scoreline w/ Shaq bricking half his FTs
Good.
Every whiner out there complaining about “how easy this is” is ridiculous. If it’s so easy, why has only Wilt had more points? Why hasn’t your favourite player done it yet?
Getting 83 points is fucking hard.
If r/nba users could read they would be very upset
Also, if r/nba users could actually get a bucket they would understand how much of a feat this is
I dare anyone here to go to The Y and try and get 83 points in a pickup game lmao
Or try to score 83 points just shooting around and see how long it takes you lol, half the dudes here would be at it for an hour
For an hour? I bet fools here can’t even shoot an open layup. They’ll probably manage to airball that
99% of these dweebs couldn’t score 83 even if there wasn’t an opposing team.
Or just get 83 points in an empty court. Most redditors can’t put up 100 shots.
Bam technically only put up 80 something shots (including free throws). While also running and jumping and defending. Yes the wiz are shit but you still have to move with them.
Yeah but these redditors aren’t scoring 80 off 80 shots lol
I’m glad Spoelstra is not apologizing for his actions since it’s rare for a coach to go out of the team’s way to accommodate a player’s individual achievement.
Kobe had 62 through 3 quarters and Klay had 60 through 3 and both sat the entire 4th. Who knows how much they would have ended up with had they been allowed to chase the points, much less have their coach intentionally foul to increase the number of possessions.
We’ll never know what Spo would have done if the Heat had been up 35 at the end of the 3rd like the Lakers were when Kobe had 62.
With ten minutes left in the 4th, the Wizards were only down 13 and could have won that game since the Heat were missing four starters due to injury.
It only turned into a blowout because the Wizards decided to purposely lose in an effort to prevent 81, instead of trying to win and if 81 happens so be it.
Klay is an easy one, he would have been double/triple teamed and would have not gotten to 83. Kobe might have done it
I don’t disagree. Physically, people underestimate how hard it is to be the lead guy on the team and put up so many shots.
Just because someone gets hot and scores 15-20 in a quarter doesn’t mean they are going to hit 60, even 50.
That being said, 43 FT is fucking insane.
Did you watch the whole game? They were double a triple teaming him, and he was driving and baiting them and they couldn’t keep their arms off him. It was legit and natural in the flow of the game, just a totally bizarre situation.
Even beyond that, what do people expect him to do, even if they were “unwarranted” calls? Like did they want him to intentionally miss the FTs? lol
watch him after the last ft, he was limping to the bench lol. his legs were absolutely dead
even his 4th quarter block he got he was just standing there instead of his usual defense which is getting contact b4 the player gets into the paint
No you don’t understand, Bam Adebayo is the first unethical player to partake in stat chasing in NBA history. It’s never happened before. The only reason we don’t see this done nightly is that literally every other player in the league is above such shameless behaviour.
My guy had 71 and some 60+ games as well. Not that those were easy or that I’m one of the people complaining about Bam. I’m with Spo, fuck the haters.
I mean both sides are right.
83 points does not happen often and it’s a great achievement no matter what.
Also Bam efficiency was absolutely shit and in vacuum a 40/30/80 shooting splits look horrendous for a player like Bam so it was clearly a volume thing too.
I also feel like none of that shit really matters anyways I think those 70+ regular season games are never really talked about until someone scores more. Nobody even brings it up when discussing Kobe’s place in top players’ debate.
This is nothing more than a Trivia night question whether legit or not anyways. I genuinely forget Booker or Mitchell got 70+.
Bam efficiency was absolutely shit
Bam shot 62% from 2. In Kobe’s 81 point game, he shot 63% from 2.
43 ft and over 20 threes later. oh my word.
both things can be true. It is hard to get 83 and it was an unethical performance to achieve it. I don’t recall the lakers beaming the ball at the front of the rim up 30 and fouling just to get more points… Any NBA fan was disgusted watching that come on it wasn’t basketball
If it’s so difficult, how come Bam is the only one to do it in 60 years? He’s objectively not a great scorer.
Yea coach spo stand on your shit!
As diehard laker/kobe fan, I really dont understand the negative criticism. Regarding “stat padding”, it’s basketball bro. It’s a game. It’s not that serious. And people blaming Bam for all the FTs, as if he’s the one fouling himself 💀
I don’t get the criticism at all. What are people even mad about? Were you not entertained? I sure fucking was, and I grew up in the Ewing era, despising the Heat. Bam seems like such a great guy and I’m happy for him.
What are people even mad about?
Kobe fans get mad at everything
Except at him being a rapist
And they won the game. The only way I would accept “criticism” of it would be if they lost.
Anyone else is free to do the same, I know we will be seeing people try.
They fed the shit out of Kobe that game too, although not as hard as they did Bam.
This is what gets me the most tbh. Yes the Heat were trying to get Bam as many points as possible in the 4th, but he also scored 60 fucking points in the first 3 quarters. He was getting tons of FTs because the Wizards couldn’t stop him and kept fouling. People are acting like every point he scored was the worst foul baiting of all time.
Tanking is the antithesis of Heat culture. The fact that he did it to a franchise doing what the Wizards are proves a point the league hates to see.
It’s only like three people in the media bitching about it. Frank Isola, Scalabrinie, and like two other guys. Fuck them all.
Pretty sure that’s four, but you’re a Lakers fan so I’ll give it to you.
dwade said miami got no buzz and spo gave the people what they want so whats the problem
spo said after the game he texted wade “now theres a buzz”
We ended the Hornets win streak too…buzzzz….
That’s more no buzz because all the bees are dead
What you say f me for?
[removed]
Love it!
Essentially every player that has played for him absolutely loves him, you see why
King shit
*Heat shit
That’s what happens after a spicy meal
bro thinks he Frodo
I would like to take this moment to apologize… to absolutely nobody!!!
The double champ does wtf he wants!
I miss sober Conor.
He wasn’t sober then either mate lol
You right. I miss Conor who could responsibly handle his extracurricular activities
It was focused Connor. A coke head without internal motivation falls off the rails fast
you knew him when he was 5?
It’s awful he feels the need to even say this. Neither Erik Spoelstra nor anyone on the Miami Heat did anything wrong. Instead of criticizing, just enjoy the fact that we got to see a player reach that number.
Mike Wilbon all but said Sean Taylor deserved to die (was killed as the victim in a home invasion)
Skip turned Dak Prescott’s brother tragically ending his own life into question marks about Dak’s leadership
Colin Cowherd said baseball can’t really be an intelligent complex sport because Dominicans are elite at it.
Bill Simmons blamed LeBron leaving Cleveland on him being raised by a single mother and not having a father figure in life.
They’ve always been fucking vile.
Simmons isn’t my favorite, but he at least doesn’t say shit like that regularly. The other three though, just churn out that bullshit. You can hear comments that idiotic almost every day from them.
I can’t understand why anyone watches these bozos. They are both dumb and uninteresting.
wow not even to reddit user lakersyapper?
I’m sorry bud
Honestly, the Heat have a pretty tough stretch to end the season. If they do want to make that playoff push you could argue this was a great way to build the team up
The discourse around this has been something.
A significant part of our fanbase has had a media victim mindset forever.
I’m starting to think they were on to something.
one of the biggest media heads in the NBA for 2 decades came into that role from soley making hating lebron james the most important priority in his life. It’s unfathomable what the media has allowed to happen to the NBA. there is no corollary in any other sport that even comes close to the disgusting nature of nba media.
People acting like it was disrespectful to beat Kobe’s number baffles me for so many reasons. Chief among them that with everything we know about how competitive Kobe was, should we expect him to want to be coddled?
Just remember, Kobe has never done anything unethical in his life! Definitely nothing more unethical than a coach fouling intentionally
History is most likely repeating itself because this is probably what it was like after Wilt’s 100 point game. And it was probably worse too because you know those racist white dudes were saying crazy shit.
It’ll all settle down though because this is an extremely impressive feat in the end.
Love this from Spo. Dont want him to get 83? Had 4 quarters to stop him from doing so.
What’s annoying is the wizards didn’t do anything to slow him down until he got into the 70’s then it was all hands on deck to stop him from scoring. Hence why his last stretch of points were from the free throw line
Exactly. Like you mad now that he might bring you with him in the record books? Why didn’t you make an adjustment when he dropped 31 in the 1st? Or when he had 60 something after 3? You only resulted in triple teams and fouling any other Heat player immediately upon them touching the ball to not get him there. I have no problem with how he got 83 they were trying to make it impossible and Spo helped make it possible. If the roles were reversed I’d be mad at my own team for not switching up the gameplan to stop this dude from killing us.
Playing defense like professionals would be a start!
Anybody complaining didn’t actually watch the game.
The Heat fouled intentionally for SIXTEEN SECONDS (1:40 to 1:24) as retaliation for the LOSING team trying to drain the clock instead of trying to score.
The Heat intentionally missed ONE free throw as retaliation for the LOSING team fouling at mid court so Bam couldn’t get the ball.
Bam was on track to break Kobe’s record during the course of normal play. The WIZARDS chose to stop trying to win to instead focus on preventing the record, so Spo rightfully said FUCK YOU. If you want to make this all about 81, fine, two can play that game.
A bunch of internet trolls
Kobe didn’t apologize about Colorado either, good for you coach
kobe actually did appologize, (emphasis mine)
“First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure. I also want to apologize to her parents and family members, and to my family and friends and supporters, and to the citizens of Eagle, Colo.
“I also want to make it clear that I do not question the motives of this young woman. No money has been paid to this woman. She has agreed that this statement will not be used against me in the civil case. Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.
“I issue this statement today fully aware that while one part of this case ends today, another remains. I understand that the civil case against me will go forward. That part of this case will be decided by and between the parties directly involved in the incident and will no longer be a financial or emotional drain on the citizens of the state of Colorado.”
there’s a word for sex that’s only consensual for one person
Why would he need to apologize?
Because people are mad that Bam beat Kobe’s achievement.
Based
That’s my coach.
Chad response
Bam!
Own it
How bro felt saying that: 😎
How bro is actually: 😎
How I am actually replying to your comment: 😎
I fucking love Spo, man. Fuck the Haters. You should be more insulted about the Wizards pathetic tanking.
Honestly I bet people tune in to wizards games from here on out just to see if anyone else can top 83 lol
crazy that someone would even ask him about the criticisms. who gives a fuck
The wizards should be the ones apologizing.
Curry would have the record for 3’s if Spo was his coach, fuck Kerr forever for his lame gatekeeping
If you have a problem with Adebayo scoring 83 points then you play defense and stop him. And stfu about Kobe’s record as if Adebayo in anyway diminishes it.
Steve Kerr would never!
Steve Kerr famously backs up Draymond to the point it tanked any chance of them winning another ring with Steph
If anything Kerr is the prime example of when backing a player goes too far
….he would never what? apologize to no one?
Period
https://youtu.be/zxRYF2s-wLc
Time for Friday Night Smackdown already?
Amazing response lol. Spo is in his prime Conor McGregor ish. Screw the haters. Couldn’t care less of keeping 2nd for Kobe.
Translation: SMD bitches.
Tell them Spo lol. If you have a shot on breaking a once in a lifetime record, you do it especially if you are against a team so bad like the Wizards. Glad he let that happen unlike other coaches out there.
Also hate how they downplay this Bam game. Take away all of his FTs and he still scored almost 50 (47). Still not something you always see.
It’s clear now they were punishing a tanking team. Good for them.
I wish more teams do this now. Try or ill break the scoring record on your sorry asses.
Good
Spoelstra right now
Respect
Fuckin love Spo man frl he’s one of the best coaches now and is a HOF one forsure
FTA Adebayo
People have every right to stat pad.
And other people have every right to have a reaction to that.
If someone has a chance to break a record, you put them in position to break the record. Kobe would have understood, shit that’s basically what his last game was. Give him the ball and let him shoot.
Should have finished with something like “so go suck my balls Kobe stans” just to really grind it in
love kobe could not care less that bam passed him, kobe would be proud too. Having said that, that wasn’t basketball and it was a tough watch
Based. People taking this shit so seriously it’s embarrassing, it’s just a basketball game at the end of the day
Kobe’s 81 is not some kind of sacred text that was defaced.
I wonder if it was the other way around
Next time the Heat are getting blown out, I expect the opposing team to play their starters to the end going full fucking throttle on them. 40 point blow out? Push it to 80 point blow out 💯
Bro? He just said “I’ve seen people say you have to be a purist in this league… I’m not a purist. I’m a Darwinist” 💀💀💀 FUCKN SAVAGE
Real talk, no shame in letting him go for it. His line was kinda wild but it’s still an incredible feat.
I’m most interested to see if more team and coaches let a player go ham like this to try to get to 100.
[deleted]
That’s… not the quote.
based
He literally did nephew, when he outscored the Mavs 62 to 61 through the first 3 quarters… and never went back in.
Spo… what a guy. Best coach in the league. God I love him.
100% support
you are allowed to have fun
What the hell does he have to apologize for? Records are awesome and sports are entertainment. If I’m at an NFL game and it’s a 40-point blowout but a QB has 7 TDs, I hope they come out slinging to try to get 8.
Thats my coach! Shame he hasnt won at least one COY award.
That’s good stuff man
Yessir
I hate the Heat and I hate how much I like them.
Why are people being so weird about this?
“It’s not impressive”
Of course it is. Look, whether you want to criticize the last few points is whatever..but the bulk of his points were legit, and scoring 75 points isn’t really less impressive.
In fact, the idea that anyone (Luka, Devin, Kobe etc..) who scored 65+ points isn’t impressive is seriously just being a head in the sand hater.
“It doesn’t count because of the foul shots”…Washington shouldn’t have fouled him so damn much. Make an adjustment. Doesn’t make his scoring less legit. Those were fouls. And even on soft calls, so what? Refs make soft calls all the time.
“Haha Kobe fans”
I can’t even with this one. This is just deranged.
“Bam shouldn’t be in the record books like this.” Of course he should. He broke it. Mad cause your favorite didn’t do it?
“[player’s] was more impressive because x”
Kay, that may be true. In fact I agree on some. But it doesn’t mean Bam doesn’t have the record. And it doesn’t mean his performance wasn’t special.
People are such lunatics about this. Why can’t we just congratulate Bam, call it an amazing game and move on.
This is exactly the energy I want from them on this 🤣
Spo don’t fuck around and I’m here for it. He’s been one of my favorite coaches even if he has ripped my heart out a bunch with the Heatles.
I like it. He stands by his decision to break that 80 pt game
Gotta love Spo. That’s what’s up.
Time was people said records were made to be broken.
NBA fans today think of records as sacrosanct and players should sit on the bench to avoid breaking a record.
The right answer. If you have a problem with it, stop him
Kobe fans about to take that even more personal!
Serious question, why does everyone keep referring to it as ‘breaking Kobe’s record’ when Wilt has the record? Kobe was in 2nd. This is the new 2nd.
Everyone knows Wilt’s 100 is completely unattainable.
And since Kobe’s 81 actually exists on video, it was the most impressive performance anybody can actually watch.
81 was such a huge part of Kobe’s aura. Perhaps the most iconic part of his legend.
Nobody in a million years thought Bam would ever surpass that achievement.
Hi sung
Give Spo COTY
Lakers fans are the worst
He said I apologize.
Fuck yeah Spo!
Why would he apologize? The team won the game, Bam got 83. It’s the Wizards that should apologize for putting out that team.
as he shouldn’t lol
Spo just made himself the Fonzie of the league because the NBA has officially jumped the shark
Did I miss something? Do Kobe fans think Bam raped someone?
Is this the most hated on high scoring performance ever?
But that’s not what it says in that link.
Who asked for an apology? Lol
‘Add this to your asterisk, muhfuckas’
He is one big reason the Heat haven’t won a championship in 13 years.
This is why Spo is the best coach in basketball. He stands by his players.
Eat shit media. Bam now has the second highest scoring game in nba history. Live with it. I hope it keeps you up at night.
That’s my motherfucking Heat Culture Coach baby