Miami played hard, had a good plan, hit their threes, and in the end it didn’t matter in Game 2 as the Lakers won comfortably anyway. From the Heat’s perspective, they wonder if the outcome might have been different if Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic had been healthy enough to play.
Once again, both are officially listed as doubtful to play in Game 3 on Sunday night.
However, Adebayo said he plans to play and there is some optimism he can go, reports Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.
There is some hope that Bam Adebayo (neck strain) will be well enough to attempt playing in Game 3.
Optimism isn’t as high for Goran Dragic (plantar fascia), who – like Bam – is getting near-constant treatment.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) October 3, 2020
Dragic has a torn plantar fascia. While in theory he might be able to play through the pain (this is an injury that usually sidelines a play for at least a month), he wouldn’t have the stability in his foot to use his quickness or make sharp cuts to get into the paint and break down the Lakers’ defense. Dragic would be a shell of himself and likely no better than Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro, who are taking up his minutes.
Adebayo is battling both the shoulder injury that slowed him against Boston and a new neck injury. There are not many details on his injury, it likely will be closer to a game-time decision if he can play. While Kelly Olynyk put up points and spaced the floor some for the Heat in place of Adebayo, on the defensive end there is no comparison. Miami needs Adebayo in the paint and on the glass to slow down Anthony Davis and LeBron James and have a chance in this series.
