Dealing with injuries to their core players, specifically Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins, the Miami Heat needed an all-around effort to secure a crucial win.
Rookie Kel’el Ware answered the call, putting up a dominant 19-point, 17-rebound performance in a 117-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Monday night at Kaseya Center.
The Heat finally found a true frontcourt partner to pair with Bam Adebayo.
For years, the Heat experimented with different players to play with Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt. But Adebayo has been forced to play the five for the majority of his career as the Heat searched for an ideal center who could complement his skillset.
Looking at the top teams in the NBA, most can throw out an effective double-big lineup. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics all have variations of these units. In the past, Miami did not have the personnel to play with size for an extended period of time. With the addition of Ware, that has changed.
As more playing time came his way, Ware began to establish his presence on the glass, and his career night in rebounds tied a Heat rookie record for most rebounds in a game. His best board of the night came on the offensive end, with a nasty putback to put Miami up 13.
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Before the draft, scouts questioned Ware’s motor. There are still times when Ware can be pushed around or isn’t as physical as the team would like, but those moments have become fewer and further between as his rookie year has gone on.
The Heat clearly believed in Ware’s skillset and envisioned the possibility of playing him alongside Adebayo. The pairing has flashed potential on both ends, but I am mainly excited to see how they can grow defensively.
We already know that Adebayo is one of the best defenders on the planet, and now he’s in a position to slow down more wings and guards on the perimeter while Ware protects the backline. While I’m not expecting both big men to become elite floor spacers, Adebayo’s shot from beyond the arc has improved, and Ware has shown touch on the occasional jumper.
With the Heat heading into a crucial stretch, they need this duo to play at a high level, and I am excited to see how this frontcourt performs in big games.
