Miami’s up-and-down season met the bitterest end possible — a 55-point beating at the hands of East top seed Cleveland Cavaliers to be exact.
And star big man Bam Adebayo expects team president Pat Riley to be busy in the offseason.
"There's going to be a lot of changes this summer. Just from my point of view, understanding how the guy [Riley] with the silver hair works,” Adebayo spoke in the aftermath of their deflating 138-83 loss in Game 4 to the Cavaliers, Tuesday (PH time), April 29.
[ALSO READ: Cavaliers first to East semis after completing opening-round sweep of Heat]
He added: “Just be prepared for that."
A stern warning for the star big man coming off a contest where Miami absorbed their worst playoff loss in franchise history.
The Heat fell to a 12-3 deficit early and never recovered, trailing by as many 60 points – yes, you heard it right — en route to a second consecutive first-round exit for the squad who just reached the NBA Finals two years ago.
Just two days ago, Miami suffered a 124-87 beatdown in Game 3. Overall, the series margin of 122 points was the most one-sided postseason series the league has ever seen.
“It was humbling, this series. These last two games were embarrassing," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters.
"Damn it was humbling... We were as irrational as we usually are, thinking that we have a chance to win this series and they showed us why we weren't ready for that."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 29, 2025
Erik Spoelstra on the Heat being swept by the Cavs🗣?
"As an organization, we will look at this and say this is unacceptable," Spoelstra added.
The three-time champion coach, though, gave props to the Cavaliers side who made return trip to the East semifinals.
“Cleveland is also a very good team. We won whatever we won. They won 65. They just took it to another level.”
De'Andre Hunter gets the and-1 💪💪
— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2025
Part of a 43-POINT first quarter for the Cavs!!
Cavs (3-0) Heat | Game 4 | TNT
Tyler Herro, the Heat’s leading scorer this playoffs at 17.8 points per game, offered no excuses on how the team’s campaign unfolded and expects there “a lot of work to be put in” moving forward.
“Tough last two games for us. It's embarrassing,” Herro said.
Asked Tyler Herro about the past two monumental blowout losses.
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) April 29, 2025
“We definitely didn’t expect this. No excuses for it, it’s embarrassing, definitely humbling. A lot of work to be put in to have a good opportunity to come back next season…” #HeatNation
Adebayo had a quiet 13-point, 12-rebound double-double and disappointed at all, he lauded how Miami responded in a tumultuous season overshadowed by former superstar Jimmy Butler and his saga.
“A lot of ups and downs but we fought at the end of the day,” the three-time All-Star added.
