<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-kelel-ware-rolling-with-the-punches-during-cold-streak');   ga('set', 'title', 'Heat’s Kel’el Ware ‘rolling with the punches’ during cold streak');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kelel-Ware-rolling-with-the-punches-during-cold-streak.jpg"></figure><h1>Heat’s Kel’el Ware ‘rolling with the punches’ during cold streak</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-13T15:35:20-07:00">March 13th, 3:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-13T15:35:20-07:00">March 13th, 3:35pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>MIAMI – While one <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-meet-miamis-new-sparkplug-earning-dazzling-reviews-from-tyler-herro-erik-spoelstra">Miami Heat rookie has served as a sparkplug</a> for the team in Pelle Larsson, the team’s first-round pick Kel’el Ware is currently amid a few rough outings. This was on display in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-tyler-herro-drops-stunning-spirit-admission-amid-loss-to-clippers">Heat’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers</a> on Wednesday as he spoke about the learning process or overcoming his current shortcomings.</p><p>Looking at the season overall, Ware has been impressive in his rookie season as he’s currently a mainstay in the starting lineup, standing alongside Bam Adebayo in the front court. However, in back-to-back games against the Charlotte Hornets’ Mark Williams and Clippers’ Ivica Zubac, he was taken advantage of his inexperience.</p><p>Williams had 24 points and 10 rebounds and Zubac finished with 26 points and 14 rebounds as Ware struggled in protecting the paint against the named bigs defensively and earning his points offensively. It’s led to sporadic playing time late and even Haywood Highsmith starting in his place in the second half on Wednesday as Ware has a clear mindset.</p><p>“I’m just rolling with the punches,” Ware said after the loss to Los Angeles, which is Miami’s fifth straight.</p><p>“Those are guys who have been in the league for a minute and I’m still learning through it,” Ware continued about the opposing performances from Williams and Zubac. “So I don’t really think it’s tough. I just think it’s more of a lesson to learn, look back on it and get better next year.”</p><h2><b>Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on how Kel’el Ware can learn from the down outings</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kelel-Ware-on-March-12-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) looks to pass the ball as LA Clippers forward Drew Eubanks (15) defends during the second half at Kaseya Center.</figcaption></figure><p>With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting/celtics-vs-heat-prediction-odds-pick-spread-3-14-2025">Heat looking to face the Boston Celtics next</a>, Spoelstra is looking for any way to succeed in terms of rotations and <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1900022780252307854" rel="noopener">explained the decision</a> to not start Ware in the second half.</p><p>“It just didn’t look right against this team, to start two bigs,” Spoelstra said. “It’s not necessarily an indictment on Kel’el. But we weren’t able to take advantage of it. We’ve been working on these things. So we didn’t go that way in the second half. There were stretches that looked OK. But Zubac kind of had his way there in the paint.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Erik Spoelstra speaks on starting Haywood Highsmith in the second half over Kel’el Ware.</p><p>“It didn’t look right against this team to start two bigs. Not necessarily an indictment…” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/9ra7vgNvT3">pic.twitter.com/9ra7vgNvT3</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1900022780252307854?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>When examining how recent opposing bigs have been playing Ware, while the numbers aren’t pretty, Spoelstra would see the bright side in stressing <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1900025115007389979" rel="noopener">how crucial it is to learn from the mistakes</a> and apply them over time.</p><p>“He can definitely see the physicality, the girth and he’s gained a lot of strength in the weight room,” Spoelstra said. “But now there’s also functional strength, technique and really competing against guys that are trying to take advantage of that post opportunity or catches in the paint. That’s happened now a few times.</p><p>“The size, the strength, all that, we need that right now from him,” Spoelstra continued. “And he’s learning everything from a fire hose, but this is actually the best way to learn is when there’s consequences to everything because everything becomes so much more magnified.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Erik Spoelstra on Kel’el Ware learning from these last two tough outings.</p><p>“The size, the strength, all that, we need that right now from him and he’s learning everything from a firehouse but this is actually the best way to learn is when there’s consequences…” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/5FZXxw8AyI">pic.twitter.com/5FZXxw8AyI</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1900025115007389979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Heat’s Kel’el Ware confident he’s “progressing every game”</b></h2><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-hints-at-miamis-fearful-nature-amid-losing-skid">Heat looks to get back its fearless nature</a>, Ware wants to get back to how he played earlier in the season, when he originally started, he was a huge presence on either side of the ball. Still, the late-game minutes have been up and down as the rookie would deny that it’s a trust issue since he plays a good portion of the game as he’ll focus more on getting better.</p><p>“I don’t know if it’s the trust factor because I play the first three quarters,” Ware said of his recent sporadic late-game usage. “So I don’t know if it’s a trust factor [with Spoelstra]. I just feel like it’s just the lineup that he wants to go with in the fourth quarter, I feel like that’s really it, I don’t think it’s much of a trust factor. They haven’t really said anything to me. That’s why I feel like it’s not much of a trust thing.”</p><p>“I feel like I’m progressing every game, every practice,” Ware continued. “Just trying to get better. Of course, this season isn’t going how we all hoped it would go. But I’m still treating every day like I want to get better and I want to progress because I know my second year is going to come around quickly. So I just want to be prepared for that.”</p><p>At any rate, Ware hopes to contribute to winning basketball and turn around the season as before Friday’s contest against the Boston Celtics, the team is 29-36 which puts them ninth in the East.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Heat’s Kel’el Ware ‘rolling with the punches’ during cold streak

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-kelel-ware-reacts-to-erik-spoelstras-questionable-decision-in-collapse-vs-knicks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kel’el Ware reacts to Erik Spoelstra’s questionable decision in Heat collapse vs. Knicks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kelel-Ware-reacts-to-Erik-Spoelstras-questionable-decision-in-collapse-vs.-Knicks.jpg"></figure><h1>Kel’el Ware reacts to Erik Spoelstra’s questionable decision in Heat collapse vs. Knicks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-03T07:59:22-08:00">March 3rd, 7:59am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-03T14:33:02-08:00">March 3rd, 2:33pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>MIAMI – Before the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting/wizards-vs-heat-prediction-odds-pick-spread-3-3-2025">Miami Heat take on the Washington Wizards</a> on Monday, the team looks to bounce back after the disappointing events of Sunday. As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-miami-experience-massive-heartbreak-in-knicks-ot-loss">Heat lost in a heartbreaker to the New York Knicks</a>, one positive was the performance of Kel’el Ware, though Erik Spoelstra wouldn’t play him much in the second half, leading some to scratch their heads.</p><p>Ware had a dominant showing early as he was no doubt a physical presence that was wearing down on New York on both sides of the ball. By the end of the first half, he had 10 points (all dunks) to go along with six rebounds and a whopping five blocks, which was a career-high.</p><p>While Ware started the second half and played 10 minutes, even having an <a href="https://x.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1896357321435177469" rel="noopener">exciting windmill dunk</a>, he didn’t play any significant time in the final period, which included Miami losing their double-digit lead and eventually losing in overtime.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">here it is, ladies &amp; gentlemen 💥 <a href="https://t.co/YaL0kfOApK">pic.twitter.com/YaL0kfOApK</a></p><p>— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1896357321435177469?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><br>He ended up with 12 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks, and he spoke about Spoelstra’s decision <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1896392187212132530" rel="noopener" target="_blank">to not involve him for much of the second half.</a></p></figure><p>“I mean, he’s the coach for a reason…and I’m a rookie, so I can’t say really say nothing about that,” Ware said. “His decision is his decision, and I’m gonna go with it.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kel’el Ware on Erik Spoelstra sitting him for a majority of the second half.</p><p>“I mean he’s the coach for a reason, and so *smirks* and I’m a rookie so I can’t say really say nothing about that…his decision is his decision and I’m gonna go with it.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/7iPyN0P3Wk">pic.twitter.com/7iPyN0P3Wk</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1896392187212132530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Heat’s Erik Spoelstra explains decision involving Kel’el Ware</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kelel-Ware-on-March-2-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/heat-news-kelel-ware-eye-popping-nba-feat-not-seen-1989-david-robinson">Ware has been a mainstay in the Heat’s starting lineup</a> as of recently where he’s in the frontcourt alongside captain Bam Adebayo, who scored 30 points in the loss to the Knicks. Spoelstra was asked if the decision to not play Ware was because of an injury concern, which he denied and attributed it to matching New York in terms of <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1896390866354483482" rel="noopener">“perimeter stuff”</a> as the opponent was trying to shoot more threes.</p><p>“No, he was fine…we’re trying to match a little bit of the perimeter stuff,” Spoelstra said. “When we had a lead, I didn’t want the threes…to get to us. It wasn’t necessarily anything that he was doing. They’re going to put…OG on Bam regardless.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Erik Spoelstra says that the lack of playing time for Kel’el Ware in the fourth quarter wasn’t due to injury, but due to some focus on stopping Knicks’ perimeter attack. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/vkz88TMeZ9">pic.twitter.com/vkz88TMeZ9</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1896390866354483482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>The rookie had been in a bit of a slump in terms of his impact on the floor before Sunday’s game, which even Ware mentioned after the loss. He acknowledged that he is <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1896391258861678599" rel="noopener">“still learning”</a> and is trying to get back to that portion earlier in the season where he was an unstoppable force.</p><p>“I mean, I’m still learning, a rookie, so I just want to get better at being…straight up, being tall, trying to affect the game,” Ware said. “And…defensively more than I have been a little bit, trying to get back to how I was at the beginning of the season, just trying to go for everything, affect everything, and try to get as many buckets as I can.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kel’el Ware acknowledges that he’s still learning as a rookie and wanted to get back to being a presence and having an impact on the game leading to his electric first half. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/Vk8Pq62XsL">pic.twitter.com/Vk8Pq62XsL</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1896391258861678599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Heat’s Kel’el Ware on being benched in second half of win over Pacers</b></h2><p>While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-fans-react-kelel-ware-block-party-monster-1st-half-vs-knicks">Heat fans reacted positively to Ware’s hot start</a> against the Knicks, he had a different fate in the game before, which was Friday’s win over the Indiana Pacers. After a forgettable first half, Spoelstra benched Ware in the second half in favor of Alec Burks as the first-year player told ClutchPoints <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1896392561071468640" rel="noopener">it fueled him</a> to come out Sunday and perform at a high level.</p><p>“I mean, yeah, every game…I sit back; I watch it; I try to learn from it and see where I can get better,” Ware said. “So, you know, it’s a development process.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked Kel’el Ware if himself getting benched last game in the second game was used it as fuel to come out today and dominate early.</p><p>Would say yes and also say he uses every game to watch back and use as a way to develop. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/kOwtqbqrz5">pic.twitter.com/kOwtqbqrz5</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1896392561071468640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>At any rate, Miami still suffered the loss, and we’ll see how Spoelstra plays Ware in the future with constant rotation changes. The Heat are 28-31, which puts them seventh in the Eastern Conference as they look to bounce back against Washington on Monday night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Kel’el Ware reacts to Erik Spoelstra’s questionable decision in Heat collapse vs. Knicks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-fans-react-kelel-ware-block-party-monster-1st-half-vs-knicks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Heat fans react to Kel’el Ware block party in monster 1st half vs. Knicks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Fans-react-to-Kelel-Ware-block-party-in-monster-1st-half-vs.-Knicks.jpg"></figure><h1>Heat fans react to Kel’el Ware block party in monster 1st half vs. Knicks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-02T17:55:54-08:00">March 2nd, 5:55pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-02T18:06:53-08:00">March 2nd, 6:06pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Although Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro have been staples of the Miami Heat for several years now, the franchise is entering a new, distinct era following its <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-jimmy-butler-heat-trade">messy divorce with Jimmy Butler</a>. Beyond the two aforementioned All-Stars, this team needs young players to fully embrace the fabled Heat Culture and deliver on the court. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-kelel-ware-eye-popping-nba-feat-not-seen-1989-david-robinson">Kel’el Ware has been answering the call</a>, and he especially did so on Sunday night.</p><p>The rookie center performed admirably in a 116-112 overtime loss versus the visiting New York Knicks, posting 10 points, six rebounds and a whopping five blocks in the first half. He suffered an apparent leg injury at the end of the third quarter and nearly missed the entire fourth, preventing him from significantly improving upon those impressive numbers (12 points, eight boards and six blocks in 26 minutes), or helping Miami win the game.</p><p>Even so, Ware still left many fans in awe with the sizable impact he made in the Kaseya Center. They had a triple-double on their mind, and a rare one at that. “WHO DOIN IT WITH BLOCKS!?” <a href="https://x.com/SilverTJC/status/1896358440471286059" rel="noopener">@SilverTJC remarked</a> on X. “Buy your Kel’el Ware stock now,” Heat Nation <a href="https://x.com/HeatvsHaters/status/1896349868249215444" rel="noopener">posted</a>. “Kel’el Ware said welcome to his Block Party,” <a href="https://x.com/JaFleuTheArtist/status/1896351880487563382" rel="noopener">@JaFleuTheArtist commented</a>. “Ladies and Gentlemen, Kel’el ‘The Kryptonian’ Ware doing fancy dunks!!!!” @JaFleuTheArtist also said, referencing the big man’s Superman-inspired nickname.</p><h2><b>Kel’el Ware figures to be a key part of the revamped Heat</b></h2><p>All of the enthusiasm greatly diminished after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mitchell-robinson-return-new-york">returning Knicks center Mitchell Robinson</a> fell on Ware’s leg in the third. The No. 15 pick in the NBA Draft did return but was unable to help lift the Heat to victory, as they blew a 19-point lead.</p><p>The good news, though, is that he seemingly avoided a serious injury. A healthy Ware is critical for Miami (28-30), as he now has 55 rebounds across his last five games.</p><p>The former Big Ten All-Defensive selection (Indiana) will look to feast on the Washington Wizards (11-48) on Monday, assuming he is good to go.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Heat fans react to Kel’el Ware block party in monster 1st half vs. Knicks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/heat-news-bam-adebayo-reveals-desires-for-kelel-ware-duo');   ga('set', 'title', 'Heat’s Bam Adebayo reveals desires for Kel’el Ware duo');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Heat-news-Bam-Adebayo-reveals-desires-for-Kelel-Ware-duo.jpg"></figure><h1>Heat’s Bam Adebayo reveals desires for Kel’el Ware duo</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-01T10:36:35-08:00">February 1st, 10:36am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-01T10:36:35-08:00">February 1st, 10:36am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>MIAMI – With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-bam-adebayo-tyler-herro-drop-brotherhood-admission-ahead-of-4-game-road-trip">Miami Heat embarking on a four-game road trip</a> starting Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs, it will be a huge test for first-round pick Kel’el Ware in his new role with the starting lineup. Though he has been impressing, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-bam-adebayo-defends-kelel-ware-after-rough-outing-vs-cavs">Heat’s frontcourt duo of Ware along with Bam Adebayo disappointed</a> against the Cleveland Cavaliers as the latter spoke on what he wants to see from the both of them.</p><p>The team was vastly out-rebounded by Cleveland while also getting dominated in the paint offensively and defensively which is usually a strength for Miami. Adebayo spoke after Friday’s practice where he spoke about the aspect <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1885393658368700559" rel="noopener">that should be strengthened</a> the more they play with one another.</p><p>“Communication, and it’s not it’s not always being vocal. Sometimes it’s receiving the communication,” Adebayo said. “Those are the things that we’re trying to build. We’re trying to build body language next, next play speed, you know, focus on the little things that matter, a lot of it doesn’t show up in the stat sheet. It doesn’t show up unless you really know the game and watch the game.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bam Adebayo on what mistakes and fixes he’s looking to make while playing with Kel’el Ware.</p><p>“Communication…” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/LFZZ0IrnO8">pic.twitter.com/LFZZ0IrnO8</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1885393658368700559?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Besides the loss to the Cavaliers, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-bam-adebayo-envision-kelel-wares-upside-after-first-start">the Heat duo of Adebayo and Ware has been successful</a>, giving the team a spark and size they haven’t seen in a long time since they played smaller. Even with the down performance, Adebayo sees major promise with the Indiana University product.</p><p>“Showing him the ropes, how it’s done,” Adebayo said. “The expectation that we have of him, the standard that we have, and the culture that he’s in and he’s buying into it and soaking up all the information he can. Obviously, it’s still a work in progress, but to me, he’ll excel well.”</p><h2><b>Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on the growth of Kel’el Ware </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bam-Adebayo-and-Kelel-Ware-on-Jan.-25-2025.jpg"><figcaption>John Jones-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Ever since the frontcourt duo got extended minutes on Jan. 19, Ware has recorded three double-doubles with two of those games having at least 20 points. As <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-stern-demand-bam-adebayo-frontcourt-20-point-blowout">Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra expects better</a> from a bigger frontline, he spoke about how Ware was challenged by Cleveland’s big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.</p><p>“Yeah, nightly he’s getting challenged, and these are all opportunities to grow and learn,” Spoelstra said. “You know he has to do it on the fly, but he’s been a great student, he’s been coachable, not only by the staff but his teammates. He wants to get it right, he wants to make an impact, wants to help, and you’re facing different challenges. There’s great physicality we faced against Orlando, then all of a sudden, you’re playing a front line that is really experienced, and they have great chemistry, the two of them, and that was an experience for him. He’ll put all these things you know into his memory bank and continue to get to work like he did today, and get better.”</p><p>For Ware, while the game was a disappointment as he only scored five points with four rebounds, he told ClutchPoints that it’s important to have short-term memory.</p><p>“You gotta game the next day,” Ware said. “So, I mean, you just go play. That’s the thing about basketball. I mean, they always tell me, you got a game the next day. You go play and be better than what you did.”</p><p>At any rate, Miami is 23-23 which puts them seventh in the Eastern Conference as they face the Spurs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Heat’s Bam Adebayo reveals desires for Kel’el Ware duo

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/heat-news-bam-adebayo-defends-kelel-ware-after-rough-outing-vs-cavs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Heat’s Bam Adebayo defends Kel’el Ware after rough outing vs. Cavs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bam-Adebayo-defends-Kelel-Ware-after-rough-outing-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Heat’s Bam Adebayo defends Kel’el Ware after rough outing vs. Cavs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-30T14:51:11-08:00">January 30th, 2:51pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-30T14:51:11-08:00">January 30th, 2:51pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>MIAMI – As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-tyler-herro-makes-last-nba-all-star-case-in-loss-to-cavaliers">Miami Heat lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers</a> on Wednesday night, 126-106, it was a down performance from the highly-awaited frontcourt of Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware. While the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-bam-adebayo-envision-kelel-wares-upside-after-first-start">Heat duo of Adebayo and Ware has been impressive</a> so far, the team was vastly outrebounded by Cleveland which led to the veteran defending the rookie.</p><p>It would be another start for the frontcourt, but the opposing team would end up out-rebounding Miami 47-35 and even looking at points in the paint, the Cavaliers outscored the Heat, 68-38. Adebayo would be asked if there is concern with the team going with two bigs in the aftermath which led to him responding that too much <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1884813363177242669" rel="noopener">“pressure”</a> is being put on Ware who is just getting consistent minutes as a starter.</p><p>“We’re still working through things, trying to figure out how we can obviously get better through these ups and downs and be more consistent,” Adebayo said. “I mean, obviously the second chance points is a big problem that we need to, we need to hone in on. But it’s not just because we got two bigs out there, you think you’re gonna fix a problem. You know you’re trying to add pressure to a rookie that just really started getting his minutes and started to get his feet wet. So I don’t really look at it in that sense, but we do collectively as a group have to get better in rebounding.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bam Adebayo on a possible concern going big with lineup.</p><p>“It’s not because we have two bigs out there that it’s going to fix the problem, you trying to add pressure to a rookie that’s just really starting to get his minutes, I don’t really look at it in that sense.”<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/4Mp2tIBa7p">pic.twitter.com/4Mp2tIBa7p</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1884813363177242669?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Bam Adebayo calls Heat frontcourt a “work in progress”</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bam-Adebayo-on-Jan.-29-2025-1.jpg"><figcaption>Jim Rassol-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/exclusive-bam-adebayo-embracing-love-hate-relationship-with-heat-captain-title">Heat’s captain Adebayo would</a> finish with 21 points and nine rebounds while Ware had five points and four rebounds which is relatively rough compared to his past outings consisting of double-doubles. However, Adebayo kept emphasizing how it would be a <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1884814021460664746" rel="noopener">“work in progress,”</a> especially to get to the ideal spacing the team is looking for.</p><p>“I mean, it’s getting great spacing,” Adebayo said. “Obviously, like I said, it’s a work in progress. It’s been a small sample size, so you got to work through it. You know, everybody’s gonna point to that because it’s like, oh, that’s glaring because that’s supposed to be the fix. It’s gonna be ups and downs to this. So for us, it’s really continuing to stay confident and it’ll work.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bam Adebayo on what he wants to see from the big starting lineup.</p><p>“Great spacing….it’s a work in progress, it’s a small sample size, you got to work through it, everybody is going to point to that because that’s supposed to be the fix….” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/4syETYcQAv">pic.twitter.com/4syETYcQAv</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1884814021460664746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Still, Miami’s first-round rookie has been a standout ever since Erik Spoelstra unleashed the long-requested starting duo. Though the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-stern-demand-bam-adebayo-frontcourt-20-point-blowout">Heat head coach would say there are “no excuses”</a> for getting out-rebounded since now with Ware added, their frontline has increased in size.</p><p>The team is currently 23-23, seventh in the East, as they start a four-game road trip against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Heat’s Bam Adebayo defends Kel’el Ware after rough outing vs. Cavs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/heat-news-why-duncan-robinson-helps-new-bam-adebayo-kelel-ware-lineup');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Heat’s Duncan Robinson helps new Bam Adebayo-Kel’el Ware lineup');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Heat-news-Why-Duncan-Robinson-helps-new-Bam-Adebayo-Kelel-Ware-lineup.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Heat’s Duncan Robinson helps new Bam Adebayo-Kel’el Ware lineup</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-27T10:32:03-08:00">January 27th, 10:32am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-27T10:32:03-08:00">January 27th, 10:32am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-vs-heat-prediction-odds-pick-spread-1-27-2025">Miami Heat taking on the Orlando Magic</a> on Monday night, it will likely be another showcase for the long-awaited frontcourt lineup with Bam Adebayo and rookie Kel’el Ware. As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-bam-adebayo-envision-kelel-wares-upside-after-first-start">Heat duo of Adebayo and Ware has given the team a new dynamic</a>, one underrated aspect in the starting lineup is dynamic three-pointer shooter Duncan Robinson.</p><p>Robinson had been in and out of the starting lineup for Miami this season but with the new look being Adebayo, Ware, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler (his role on the team is uncertain), and himself, he fits in perfectly. As Adebayo and Ware will take up a lot of space with their size, the shooting and improved passing of Robinson will work perfectly as he speaks on <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article297803433.html" rel="noopener">trusting the process of head coach Erik Spoelstra</a> according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.</p><p>“At this point, I’ve been playing for him for so long, I kind of see a move happening before it comes,” Robinson said. “Nothing surprises me at this point. And I also know he’s a Hall of Fame coach. I’m not questioning any moves he’s making. I’m buying into how to help us win no matter what is of asked of me.”</p><p>This season, Robinson has been averaging 11.1 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from beyond the arc.</p><h2><b>Heat’s Duncan Robinson on strengths of Bam Adebayo, Kel’el Ware</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Duncan-Robinson-and-Bam-Adebayo-on-Jan.-25-2025.jpg"><figcaption>John Jones-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-touts-duncan-robinsons-ignitability-amid-lineup-change">The Heat star’s ignitability</a> is valuable to Spoelstra, especially when paired with Adebayo as the two have chemistry since they’ve been on the team for many years at this point. Robinson would even say that he prides himself in getting involved when out on the floor.</p><p>“I pride myself on getting Bam involved when he’s out there,” Robinson said. “He does so much for us defensively that gets covered [by media] but probably not [covered] enough. Anytime we can get him an easy one, that’s like gold for us. How much he exerts on defense, I want to try to make it easy for him. We are both constantly trying to read and figuring where spots in the defense are. Usually good things happen when we’re able to get it back to him.”</p><p>Looking at the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-kelel-ware-eye-popping-nba-feat-not-seen-1989-david-robinson">Heat’s first-round pick in Ware who has been impressing,</a> Robinson has nothing but praise for the 20-year-old who speaks on his presence as both running two-man actions are certain to be seen in the future.</p><p>“He [Ware] has so much vertical spacing, not that Bam doesn’t,” Robinson said. “His length and athleticism are really unique. There are moments you can throw it up there to him where they are not many guys in the league like that. He has a really good feel of getting out of screens and knowing when to screen and when to split out. He’s just so much more dynamic when you’re able to get it up to him at the rim.”</p><p>Robinson said he is at “peace” with whatever his role is on Miami, though he’s honest in saying he wants to start as the next chance to do so will be Monday against the Magic.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Heat’s Duncan Robinson helps new Bam Adebayo-Kel’el Ware lineup

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/heat-news-kelel-ware-eye-popping-nba-feat-not-seen-1989-david-robinson');   ga('set', 'title', 'Heat’s Kel’el Ware pulls off eye-popping NBA feat not seen since 1989 David Robinson');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/0-Kelel-Ware-pulls-off-eye-popping-NBA-feat-not-seen-since-1989-David-Robinson-0.png"></figure><h1>Heat’s Kel’el Ware pulls off eye-popping NBA feat not seen since 1989 David Robinson</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-22T06:51:49-08:00">January 22nd, 6:51am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-22T08:26:00-08:00">January 22nd, 8:26am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite all the noise surrounding <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-did-jimmy-butler-drop-trade-destination-hint-with-shoe-choice-vs-blazers">Jimmy Butler wanting to be traded</a> from the Miami Heat, there have been some positive developments for the team. One of those things is the play of rookie Kel’el Ware, who has shown over the past few games that he has a unique set of skills that can help the Heat now and in the future.</p><p>Ware got his first start against the Portland Trail Blazers, and even though they lost 116-107, Ware finished with a stat line of 20 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks, which made him the <a href="https://x.com/OptaSTATS/status/1881946119258915021" rel="noopener">second player in NBA history</a> to do that in their first start since David Robinson in 1989.</p><p>Being mentioned in the same sentence as Robinson is significant, especially considering what he accomplished in his career. Ware has a long way to go in his career, but it was a great way to perform at the first start of his career.</p><h2>Heat see the upside in Kel’el Ware</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Kelel-Ware.png"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After Kel’el Ware’s big game, head coach Erik Spoelstra and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-bam-adebayo-envision-kelel-wares-upside-after-first-start" rel="noopener">Bam Adebayo spoke highly of his performance</a> and how he impacted the game against the Trail Blazers.</p><p>“The rebounding, he did some really good things defensively at the rim,” Spoelstra said. “He’ll continue to get better. You know when to go, when not to go, when to wall up. You know, if a guy catches it in the paint, those things, it’ll get better. But you know, the upside, obviously is very encouraging, and that’s why he’s in the starting lineup right now. We just frankly need to get him in there for more minutes, whether it was off the bench or starting, and it’s an easier way to make that happen.”</p><p>One thing that has Heat fans excited for years to come is the frontcourt pairing of Ware and Bam Adebayo and how they can make plays on both sides of the ball. When asked about Ware’s game, Adebayo wasn’t surprised about what he did and what he will do in the future.</p><p>“Wasn’t surprised at all,” Adebayo said. “Spo’s one of those guys, once he sees something working, he just goes for it, and that’s what we’re gonna do, figure it out. It’s not, he’s one of the young guys that really wants to soak the information and learn so for us and me is, you know, just bringing him along and helping them figure out because as y’all can see, he’s a talent in this league, and I feel like he’ll be around for a long time.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Heat’s Kel’el Ware pulls off eye-popping NBA feat not seen since 1989 David Robinson

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-bam-adebayo-envision-kelel-wares-upside-after-first-start');   ga('set', 'title', 'Heat’s Erik Spoelstra, Bam Adebayo envision Kel’el Ware’s ‘upside’ after first start');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Heat-news-Erik-Spoelstra-Bam-Adebayo-envision-Kelel-Wares-upside-after-first-start.jpg"></figure><h1>Heat’s Erik Spoelstra, Bam Adebayo envision Kel’el Ware’s ‘upside’ after first start</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-21T21:04:57-08:00">January 21st, 9:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-21T21:04:57-08:00">January 21st, 9:04pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>MIAMI—Though the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-miami-struggles-without-tyler-herro-in-loss-to-blazers-amid-jimmy-butler-drama">Miami Heat lost to the Portland Trail Blazers</a> devastatingly on Tuesday night, 116-107, the one bright spot came from rookie Kel’el Ware. The long-awaited duo of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-the-bam-adebayo-lineup-erik-spoelstra-finally-featured-in-miamis-win-vs-spurs">Heat’s first-round pick and Bam Adebayo</a> is coming off a game in which they excelled against the Spurs. Ware earned his first start of his NBA career, which garnered reactions from head coach Erik Spoelstra and his partner in crime.</p><p>In his first start, Ware recorded a strong double-double, scoring 20 points on eight of 17 shooting from the field and two of six from beyond the arc, along with a team-leading 15 rebounds. Spoelstra listed the positives he saw from the 20-year-old to ClutchPoints after the game while mentioning his<a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1881909544986763608" rel="noopener"> “upside.”</a></p><p>“The rebounding, he did some really good things defensively at the rim,” Spoelstra said. “He’ll continue to get better. You know, you know when to go, when not to go, when to wall up. You know, if a guy catches it in the paint, those things, it’ll get better. But you know, the upside, obviously is very encouraging, and that’s why, you know, he’s in the starting lineup right now. We just frankly need to get him in there for more minutes, whether it was off the bench or starting, and it’s an easier way to make that happen.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked Erik Spoelstra about Kel’el Ware’a first start and what he liked as he finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds.</p><p>“The rebounding, he did some really good things defensively, at the rim, he’ll continue to get better…the upside is very encouraging…” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/sXmPAk1nch">pic.twitter.com/sXmPAk1nch</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1881909544986763608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Heat’s Bam Adebayo on Kel’el Ware starting alongside him</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Kelel-Ware-on-Jan.-21-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-reveals-what-went-right-with-key-bam-adebayo-kelel-ware-pairing">The duo of Ware and Adebayo had been long-awaited</a> ever since the former was drafted with the 15th overall pick in the last draft which would move the latter sway from the center position which he had been in most of his tenure with Miami. Spoelstra gave it extended minutes in the win over San Antonio which gave the team a whole new life, though the same didn’t occur on Tuesday against Portland.</p><p>However, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-why-tyler-herro-miss-first-game-season-vs-blazers">the Heat were without Tyler Herro</a> for the first time this season and are still dealing with the Jimmy Butler drama so some time will be needed for the lineup change to get 100 percent where they want it. Adebayo <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1881912090472087908" rel="noopener">would share his surprise level</a> of Spoelstra starting Ware alongside him and what the rookie can bring to the team.</p><p>“Wasn’t surprised at all,” Adebayo said. “Spo’s one of those guys, once he sees something working, he just goes for it, and that’s what we’re gonna do, figure it out. It’s not, he’s one of the young guys that really wants to soak the information and learn so for us and me is, you know, just bringing him along and helping them figure out because as y’all can see, he’s a talent in this league, and I feel like he’ll be around for a long time.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bam Adebayo “wasn’t surprised at all” that Kel’el Ware got the start alongside him and spoke about the rookie’s upside. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/njYbeYbtBh">pic.twitter.com/njYbeYbtBh</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1881912090472087908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Heat’s Kel’el Ware on starting his first NBA game</b></h2><p>There is no doubt though that it was bittersweet for Ware as though he got his first start in the NBA, it ended in a disappointing loss to the Trail Blazers, but Ware put the <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1881913162121056404" rel="noopener">moment into perspective.</a></p><p>“I mean, you know, I waited my whole life to be able to start in an NBA game,” Ware said to ClutchPoints. “But, you know, of course, you always want to win, but it’s really all that matters is getting the win.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked Kel’el Ware if it’s a bittersweet moment to get his first start in the NBA but it resulted in a performance like tonight.</p><p>“I waited my whole life to start in an NBA game, but of course you want the win…” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/dT68PfOutu">pic.twitter.com/dT68PfOutu</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1881913162121056404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>At any rate, the Heat are now 21-21 which puts them ninth in the Eastern Conference as it remains to be seen if their team looks different come Jan. 23 when they face the Milwaukee Bucks on the road.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra, Bam Adebayo envision Kel’el Ware’s ‘upside’ after first start

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-reveals-exciting-vision-for-tyler-herro-kelel-ware-connection');   ga('set', 'title', 'Heat’s Erik Spoelstra reveals ‘exciting’ vision for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware connection');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Erik-Spoelstra-reveals-exciting-vision-for-Tyler-Herro-Kelel-Ware-connection.jpg"></figure><h1>Heat’s Erik Spoelstra reveals ‘exciting’ vision for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware connection</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-02T15:28:47-08:00">January 2nd, 3:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-02T15:50:38-08:00">January 2nd, 3:50pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>MIAMI – Before the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-vs-heat-prediction-odds-pick-1-2-2025">Miami Heat take on the Indiana Pacers Thursday</a> night in the second game of a back-to-back, a connection that seems to be building is one between star Tyler Herro and first-round rookie Kel’el Ware.</p><p>It was partly on display during <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-returns-from-illness-as-miami-beats-pelicans-to-start-2025">the Heat’s win over the Pelicans</a> on Wednesday as head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke about his expectations for what that relationship could look like on the court.</p><p>Wednesday marked another productive game for Ware in the minutes that he did receive where he came in as the primary backup for Bam Adebayo, replacing Kevin Love who had the role for the majority of last season.</p><p>With Herro’s leap in becoming a dynamic scorer and the talent and size Ware brings, Spoelstra said to ClutchPoints how <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1874953418693124353" rel="noopener">“exciting”</a> both in two-man actions can be.</p><p>“I want to be open to all the possibilities,” Spoelstra said. “It’s unveiling in real-time right now. That’s what’s exciting about it. But it’s the intentions, you know, that the guys are bringing every single day, working at it, even just in the walkthrough here, you know, just working on the finer details of timing, of screening, of getting to the rim. All of those things.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked Erik Spoelstra on envisioning the building chemistry between Tyler Herro and Kel’el Ware.</p><p>“I want to be open to all the possibilities, it’s unveiling in real time right now, that’s what’s exciting about it…” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y05dfr0oNL">pic.twitter.com/Y05dfr0oNL</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1874953418693124353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-bam-adebayo-gives-tyler-herro-full-support-with-ringing-all-star-endorsement">Heat’s All-Star hopeful in Herro was once again impressive</a> against the Pelicans where he led the team with 32 points on 11-for-22 shooting from the field, including hitting five of his 12 attempts from deep.</p><p>As for Ware, he made all of his four attempts, including one from deep, resulting in 10 points in close to 17 minutes, which is a new career-high for the rookie out of Indiana University.</p><h2><b>Heat’s Tyler Herro speaks on relationship with Kel’el Ware</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Kelel-Ware-on-Jan.-1-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Rhona Wise-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-tyler-herro-bam-adebayo-break-silence-on-jimmy-butlers-return-from-illness">connection between Herro and Adebayo</a> has been alive and well for the past number of seasons, the guard has another weapon when working with the second unit in Ware, who can serve as a worthy lob threat in pick and rolls.</p><p>Beyond what they can do on the floor, Herro spoke after the win over New Orleans about their friendship off the court and how <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1874666209695985701" rel="noopener">“he soaks everything up”</a> in terms of learning the NBA.</p><p>“Me and Kel’el, we hang out off the court almost every day, that’s my man right there,” Herro said. “So I’m excited to just continue to keep growing with him. He listens; he soaks everything up.</p><p>“So every time he comes out the game, he learned something from what he just did, his little stint for four or five minutes, he learned something every time he comes out. So he’s only going to get better. I’m just really excited to see him grow.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tyler Herro on Kel’el Ware’s performance and the building chemistry.</p><p>“Me and Kel’el, we hang out off the court almost every day, that’s my man right there…he’s only gonna get better…” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/QdQ8CzLK0u">pic.twitter.com/QdQ8CzLK0u</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1874666209695985701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>At any rate, both Herro and Ware will continue to build their connection as the season progresses as Miami is 17-14 before the matchup with Indiana, which puts them sixth in the Eastern Conference. After the Pacers game, they finish the home stand Saturday against the Utah Jazz, which then leads to a long six-game road trip.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra reveals ‘exciting’ vision for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware connection

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-highlights-kelel-wares-development-amid-sparse-playing-time');   ga('set', 'title', 'Heat’s Erik Spoelstra highlights Kel’el Ware’s development amid sparse playing time');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Erik-Spoelstra-highlights-Kelel-Wares-development-amid-sparse-playing-time.jpg"></figure><h1>Heat’s Erik Spoelstra highlights Kel’el Ware’s development amid sparse playing time</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-21T16:50:51-08:00">November 21st, 4:50pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-21T16:55:23-08:00">November 21st, 4:55pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>MIAMI – As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-shares-honest-admission-about-form-in-first-game-back-from-injury">Miami Heat are coming off a great win</a> over the Philadelphia 76ers, fans are still wondering about the role of first-round pick Kel’el Ware. As the narrative about the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-first-round-rookie-reveals-patient-approach-in-hope-of-more-minutes">Heat rookie getting sparse playing time has been ongoing</a>, he spoke with ClutchPoints after Thursday’s practice about being patient while head coach Erik Spoelstra also touched on his development.</p><h2><b>Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on Kel’el Ware waiting patiently for playing time</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kelel-Ware-on-Oct.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>There is no doubt that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-kelel-ware-delivers-encouraging-first-meaningful-performance-with-miami">minutes for Ware have been sporadic</a> as there was very little to start the season, then it ramped up due to the prolonged absence of Kevin Love, but it’s now virtually zero due to his return. However, it’s important to remember that the Indiana University product is a rookie, and the behind-the-scenes work has been impressive, as Spoelstra said to ClutchPoints.</p><p>The head coach would also emphasize how even though the playing time is not consistent for Ware, <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1859662782863683898" rel="noopener">it isn’t because there are any setbacks.</a></p><p>“He’s really committed to the whole process, and part of that process is just quiet all the noise,” Spoelstra said. “You know, everybody has all these expectations, and rightly so. And you know, if he’s not playing a certain amount of minutes, or if he doesn’t get into the game, that doesn’t mean things are going poorly, you know, quite the contrary, he’s doing a lot of really good things.”</p><p>“Really good practice today…Control what you can control, stack good days, keep on doing those good days,” Spoelstra continued. “It leaves an impression on the head coach and the rest of the coaching staff, your teammates, you know. And he’s, he’s getting better. Still has to learn the league, learn how things go. But he’s making a lot of steps forward, steps behind the scenes, and that’s what you want to see with young players.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked Erik Spoelstra about Kel’el Ware behind the scenes and sung his praises.</p><p>“He’s really committed to the whole process…if he’s not playing a certain amount of minutes or doesn’t get into a game, it doesn’t mean it’s going poorly, quite the contrary…” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/2hDkBFxufi">pic.twitter.com/2hDkBFxufi</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1859662782863683898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Heat’s Kel’el Ware answers if it’s frustrating that minutes are sparse</b></h2><p>Ware has impressed since being drafted with the 15th overall pick, as his seven-foot frame and elite athleticism were too good to pass up for Miami. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-kelel-ware-has-honest-takeaways-from-impressive-summer-league-performance">Heat big-man would also show out during the Summer League</a> and has shown spurs in the little playing time that has been given.</p><p>While it could be frustrating for fans that Ware isn’t getting that much playing time yet, he understands that he needs to develop, as said to ClutchPoints Thursday.</p><p>“I don’t think it’s frustrating. I would just say it’s more of the developing aspect of it and just trying to get better,” Ware said. “And, like I said, I am a rookie, so, you know, just trying to get developed to the league.”</p><h2><b>Heat’s Kel’el Ware on how the season has been going for him</b></h2><p>As people await a more consistent role with the team, he does have the right people around him in fellow big-man Bam Adebayo, veterans like Jimmy Butler and Kevin Love, and even Udonis Haslem, who is around the team in a front office role. Ware would tell ClutchPoints that besides his rookie season going well, it’s been productive to “pick the brain” of everybody he encounters.</p><p>“I mean, it’s been going good so far,” Ware said. “I’m surrounded by great people, so just learning and adapting to what’s here [in Miami]…I’m around a great group of guys, and, you know, just picking their brains whenever I can. And, you know, just learning more and more, developing and getting better.”</p><p>Another player who looks to get more minutes like <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-sends-message-to-rookie-draft-selections-amid-lack-of-minutes">Ware is fellow rookie Pelle Larsson,</a> who was selected with the second-round pick. There already has been a relationship building between the two as besides spending time in the Summer League, they are both vying for playing time as Ware details their journey.</p><p>“I mean, yeah, of course, you know, coming in with him as a rookie, played summer league with each other, so we already got a little bit of chemistry,” Ware said. “And, you know, just playing with each other and practice too, as well, and just getting better. Both of us are trying to develop and get more minutes, so that’s what we’re just doing.”</p><p>At any rate, it will remain to be seen if Spoelstra gives more minutes to Ware sooner rather than later, but judging by both comments, it could be the foreseeable future. The Heat next play the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday evening.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra highlights Kel’el Ware’s development amid sparse playing time

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/heat-news-kelel-ware-delivers-encouraging-first-meaningful-performance-with-miami');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kel’el Ware delivers ‘encouraging’ first meaningful performance with Heat');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Heat-news-Kelel-Ware-delivers-encouraging-first-performance-with-Miami.jpg"></figure><h1>Kel’el Ware delivers ‘encouraging’ first meaningful performance with Heat</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-08T14:14:41-08:00">November 8th, 2:14pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-08T14:14:41-08:00">November 8th, 2:14pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-vs-nuggets-prediction-odds-pick-11-8-2024">Miami Heat face the Denver Nuggets Friday night</a>, fans are still reeling from the loss to the Phoenix Suns that included extended playing time for first-round selection Kel’el Ware. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-first-round-rookie-reveals-patient-approach-in-hope-of-more-minutes">Heat’s rookie had a patient approach</a> in waiting for meaningful plying time as fans were clamoring to see the Indiana University product, and they finally got what they wanted last Wednesday.</p><p>Ware played 14 minutes against the Suns, where he scored seven points on three for six shooting from the field, including his only make from three-point range, while he collected three rebounds, recorded two steals, and a block. The 20-year-old would speak to the media before Friday night’s game and <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article295229639.html" rel="noopener">spoke about the anticipation to get some time,</a> according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.</p><p>“I’ve been putting in the work, trying to build up my body to build up my skills to be able to go out there and perform,” Ware said. “So it was great to have the opportunity.”</p><h2><b>Heat’s Jimmy Butler assesses rookie Kel’el Ware</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kelel-Ware-defending-on-Nov.-6-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>His only other playing time before this had been in lopsided results like the six minutes in the opening loss to the Orlando Magic and last Saturday in Mexico, where Miami dominated the Washington Wizards. While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-has-biggest-regret-after-final-shot-debacle-vs-suns">Heat star Jimmy Butler had regrets after the loss to the Suns</a>, he complimented Ware for his outing and expects more in the future.</p><p>“I think he did great,” Butler said when he was asked about how Ware did. “Jumping up there, contesting shots, rebounding, he made a three, made a little hook. The more plays, the more reps that he gets, the more comfortable he’s going to get and he’s going to be able to pick his spots a lot better on the floor. That only comes with time and reps.”</p><p>Speaking of rookies, Heat second-round selection Pelle Larsson has been getting some extended minutes the past few games as Spoelstra already sees him as a do-it-all role player for the team. As for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-kelel-ware-has-honest-takeaways-from-impressive-summer-league-performance">Summer League standout in Ware</a>, fans have higher expectations for him as being the seven-foot center that pairs with Bam Adebayo.</p><h2><b>Heat’s Kel’el Ware on what he saw from his first meaningful playing time</b></h2><p>However, every time a rookie plays his first true minutes, there will be mistakes as he had some, but Ware understands that he will learn from those and improve.</p><p>“I would say it’s more of the first time being out there like that, just first-time minutes,” Ware said after his debut in the Heat’s rotation. “Once you get them out of the way, I feel like for everybody, it’s going to be better.”</p><p>“Just being able to watch, being able to watch everything and see how everything is coming, and how I can affect things,” Ware continued.</p><p>Ware’s minutes Wednesday came because he earned it, as said by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-sends-message-to-rookie-draft-selections-amid-lack-of-minutes">Spoelstra, who even said that the Heat have been impressed</a> with his work “behind the scenes.”</p><p>“He’s been really progressing quickly behind the scenes,” Spoelstra said following Wednesday’s loss to the Suns. “He kept himself ready. I thought his minutes were very good. I thought they were encouraging.”</p><h2><b>Heat’s Kel’el Ware on how it has been a “dream come true”</b></h2><p>It remains to be seen how much more playing time Ware will get, as while he served as the primary backup to Adebayo, that role is usually filled by Thomas Bryant who has been in place for Kevin Love as he’s missed time due to “personal reasons.” Love seems to be on his way back as his distinction on the injury report is now<a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2024-11-08_04PM.pdf" rel="noopener"> “Return to Competition Reconditioning,”</a> but Ware is still grateful for the time given.</p><p>“It’s satisfying,” Ware said. “I guess you could say it’s more a dream come true because you put in the work to be able to perform at your best. That’s always good to me.”</p><p>At any rate, the Heat are 3-4 before their second contest in the six-game road trip as they face their 2023 NBA Finals opponents in the Nuggets Friday night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
9.0	7.2	0.9	1.1	0.6

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
9.0	7.2	0.9	1.1	0.6

Kel'el Ware news

Kel'el
Ware news