Giannis Antetokounmpo Skips Media After Heat Loss To Warriors
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Giannis Antetokounmpo Skips Media After Heat Loss To Warriors Giannis Antetokounmpo skipped his media availability after the Miami Heat's loss to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. The defeat followed a rough trip, as plane issues kept the Heat from reaching their hotel until around 3 a.m., league sources told The Athletic.
The game was the second of a back-to-back following an overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Golden State entered the game with two days of rest.
Stephen Curry scored 29 points for the Warriors, while Yaxel Lendeborg added 17 points and six assists.
Antetokounmpo's rare decision to avoid reporters comes amid mounting frustration for the 3-6 Heat. Defense has been the biggest problem for the Heat, which was expected to be a strong part of their team.
Despite a roster featuring Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins, Miami ranks 26th in defensive rating at 117.5 points allowed per 100 possessions.
That would be the worst mark of Erik Spoelstra's tenure, which began in 2008. His previous low came in 2014-15, when Miami ranked 21st. The Heat have finished in the top 10 in eight of his 18 seasons, including five top-five finishes.
Spoelstra addressed the defensive struggles before the game.
"Everybody has been saying the right things, and everybody wants it to look right," said Spoelstra. "There was nothing coming out of training camp or preseason that would have shown this (kind of) start. We thought we were building all the right habits, and the reality is this league can be humbling. And I throw myself in there as well.
"We have a lot of guys with resumes, but resumes and a piece of paper don't defend. It has to be actions. It has to be five people working together where you're really putting your effort out there and on the same page. Being on the (same) page is just as important as the efforts."
Giannis Antetokounmpo skipped his media availability after the Miami Heat’s loss to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. The defeat followed a rough trip, as plane issues kept the Heat from reaching their hotel until around 3 a.m., league sources told The Athletic.
The game was the second of a back-to-back following an overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Golden State entered the game with two days of rest.
Stephen Curry scored 29 points for the Warriors, while Yaxel Lendeborg added 17 points and six assists.
Antetokounmpo’s rare decision to avoid reporters comes amid mounting frustration for the 3-6 Heat. Defense has been the biggest problem for the Heat, which was expected to be a strong part of their team.
Despite a roster featuring Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins, Miami ranks 26th in defensive rating at 117.5 points allowed per 100 possessions.
That would be the worst mark of Erik Spoelstra’s tenure, which began in 2008. His previous low came in 2014-15, when Miami ranked 21st. The Heat have finished in the top 10 in eight of his 18 seasons, including five top-five finishes.
Spoelstra addressed the defensive struggles before the game.
“Everybody has been saying the right things, and everybody wants it to look right,” said Spoelstra. “There was nothing coming out of training camp or preseason that would have shown this (kind of) start. We thought we were building all the right habits, and the reality is this league can be humbling. And I throw myself in there as well.
“We have a lot of guys with resumes, but resumes and a piece of paper don’t defend. It has to be actions. It has to be five people working together where you’re really putting your effort out there and on the same page. Being on the (same) page is just as important as the efforts.”
