Heat second-year big man Kel’el Ware is experiencing growing pains and his playing time has been shaved. He was on the court for just 11 minutes and 30 seconds in a loss to the Lakers on Sunday, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald notes.
“I wouldn’t say it’s frustrating,” Ware said of his usage. “I feel like you got to trust the coach and the decisions that he comes up with. And then you got to go from there and be ready when your name is called.”
Entering Monday’s matchup against the Clippers, the Heat have been outscored by 10 points per 100 possessions with Ware on the court this season, according to Chiang. No other Miami rotation player has a worse net rating.
“We’re not going to give up on him,” frontcourt partner Bam Adebayo said. “We know how great he can be. He moves the needle for this team.”
Here’s more on the Heat:
- The Heat’s defense in general was poor against the Lakers, as they gave up 130 points. They are 0-2 on their current road trip. “It really boiled down to a lack of effort on plays that we’re accustomed to doing and making, and/or mindless plays,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, per Chiang. “Either fouls or just things that we haven’t been doing. So you do have to credit them, but we’re much better defensively than we showed (Sunday). That’s probably what’s really frustrating.”
- Norman Powell missed his third straight game on Sunday because of a right groin strain, Chiang adds. Powell was listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest before being ruled out a few hours before tip-off. He’s considered questionable to play against the Clippers, who dealt him to the Heat in July as part of a three-team trade.
- Will the Heat sue the Hornets for their failure to disclose gambling allegations against Terry Rozier before they traded him to Miami in January 2024? The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson believes it’s unlikely, noting that Heat owner Micky Arison and his son, team CEO Nick Arison, are not predisposed to filing lawsuits. The NBA was immediately informed of the suspicious betting activity the day it happened and did not inform the Heat at that time or before it approved the trade, according to Jackson’s sources. However, the Arisons have a strong relationship with commissioner Adam Silver.
- Noah LaRoche has been a significant addition to the staff, Chiang writes. He was brought in this season as a consultant after being an assistant with the Grizzlies before last season. LaRoche was credited with helping to install a more free-flowing, motion-based offense with Memphis and is doing the same with the Heat.
Idk BAM you looked pretty 3rd gear yourself last night
This insane pace on offence has got to have them not quite settled in on defense yet being so early. Good chance they will get there…gotta get Fontecehio more minutes man
3rd gear Wiggins and Bam was my 2 biggest takeaways, the rest looked really good
Heat need help at the 3/4 or 4/3 defensively. Kel’el Ware is -11 per 100 possessions on the floor, the Heat are -30 per 100 possessions worse with him on the floor so far; I am at these games; you cant gaslight me on this. Stop telling me his counting stats as though they matter
He cant guard anyone, he doesnt set screens, he plays with little effort, he is a blocks chaser, he is a black hole offensively, he doesnt pay attention on dives to the paint/rolls off “screens,” he isnt a rim protector, he is consistently on the wrong spots, giving up on plays, looking disinterested…
He is a situational big in certain matchups, like many bigs; nothing wrong with that; stop pretending and comparing him to Anthony Davis and Victor Wembanyama, and even Myles Turner; its insanity beyond insanity
Also, in that matchup last night, I would have considered starting Dru Smith and Jaime over Davion and Ware, or possibly Fontecchio at the 3, Wiggins at the 4, with Jaime still coming off the bench…
Regardless, there is no excuse being beat by Rui Hachimura and Jaxon Hayes, and to a lesser extent Jake Laravia (who is a good player i liked in his draft class, but they still need to limit that)…
I like seeing Bam at 4 with Ware at center. It will prolong Bams career. And he can be dominant at the 4 imo. It’s better for Ware to play than sit. They should just coach him up in G-league. I think he’s got potential. Heat at .500. Not the end of the world yet.
HEAT will be fine.
Don’t overthink this one …. HEAT missed a ton of FT’s, plus they were missing actions coming from Powell’s spot.
As usual, ESPN only covers the HEAT when they’re up against a team like the LAKERS.
Ware looked like he was getting a better understanding of playing a role. But the inconsistencies are showing again. Still very early though. Let’s see where he’s at in few more games