Fresh off a surprising blowout loss at home to the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, things are looking bleak for the Miami Heat at the moment. During Thursday's lop-sided win for the Celtics, the Heat were playing sloppy and lacking a sense of urgency. This wasn't the case by any means during their dominant showing in Game 1. Granted the Heat still got strong contributions from Jimmy Butler, Gabe Vincent, and Victor Oladipo, but it wasn't enough to earn them their second win of the series.

This embarrassing loss also cost them homecourt advantage. So clearly there's some major adjustments to be made by the Heat if they're hoping to steal a road win from the Celtics. With their backs against the wall and the series tied at 1-1, let's now discuss four players who must step up for the Heat after their humiliating home loss to the Celtics in Game 2.

Heat Players who must step up after blowout loss in Game 2

1. Bam Adebayo 

Coming off a killer performance in Game 1, Bam Adebayo was unable to follow-up with a monster game on Thursday night. It seemed like he was completely taken out of the equation by Boston's frontcourt. Adebayo has established himself as one of the premier talents in the league with his versatile skillset and two-way dominance over the past few seasons. If Miami is hoping to tie up the series and keep their title hopes alive, then Adebayo must deliver another big game for Miami and have a commanding presence down low.

The Heat's lack of size has been a major flaw for them all year, but Adebayo's play has been stellar up to this point. So if the Heat want to put Thursday's horrendous showing behind them, then Adebayo must step up his game immensely. Taking charge on the boards and scoring in the paint will be of utter importance for Adebayo during the Heat's upcoming match-ups with the Celtics.

2. Tyler Herro

Tyler Herro is another Miami mainstay who's clutch shooting and playmaking has been vital to the Heat's success all season. In Game 2 he was an absolute no-show who underperformed. As the 2022 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Herro is more than capable of knocking down big shots and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. As the Heat aim to dish out payback to the Celtics and steal a pivotal road win in Game 3, Herro will need to play at his level best and come through for his squad when it matters most.

3. P.J. Tucker

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As Miami's premier 3-and-D guy and a seasoned champion, P.J. Tucker knows what it takes to capture championship gold. His lockdown defense and timely 3-point shooting have done wonders for the Heat all year long. With the series now moving to Boston, Tucker will have to pull out some more of his old tricks and rev up his tenacity on both ends of the floor. Hoping to put a quiet night from Game 2 behind him, Tucker will need to step up his play on both ends of the floor for the rest of the series.

4. Dewayne Dedmon 

Given that the Heat don't possess a ton of size and length at the center spot, Dewayne Dedmon's presence in the paint is crucial for the Heat. After the Celtics took advantage of their relatively thin frontline on Thursday, Dedmon will have to be a more authoritative force on the glass and at the rim. Dedmon may not see the most minutes, but his strength down low and ability to deliver powerful finishes at the cup could be a major asset to the Heat as this series wears on.