Miami Heat Expecting Atlanta Hawks To Enter Tonight's Play-In Tournament With Underdog Mentality

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo says Atlanta Hawks are a team with nothing to lose

Last year the Miami Heat were heavily favored to defeat the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. 

This season, the feeling is pretty much the same. That is exactly why the Heat are being careful with their approach to tonight's play-in tournament game against the Hawks. 

Atlanta is the No. 7 seed, so the Heat are expecting a team with a lot of fight. 

"That's what we're shooting for, a win and in game," Heat center Bam Adebayo said. "The hardest teams to beat are the ones that have nothing left to lose, backs against the walls. I feel like they're coming in here thinking with an underdog mentality." 

This is the first time the Heat are participants in the play-in tournament. They are looking forward to the opportunity. 

"This is going to be fun," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I think you have to embrace this new experience. To the old heads in our locker room, we've experienced long NBA career and not have this opportunity. I think this has been great for the league."

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