Overview
- Before Saturday's game, Erik Spoelstra said he "didn't articulate that in a great way" and pledged the staff is fully invested in developing Kel’el Ware.
- Ware played nine first-half minutes with three points and five rebounds in Thursday’s loss to Boston and did not see the floor after halftime, with Spoelstra initially citing matchups and saying the young big was "stacking days in the wrong direction."
- Spoelstra also suggested some young players might "subconsciously" play poorly to push for minutes, a remark that drew on-air pushback from Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem.
- Bam Adebayo advised Ware to prioritize daily discipline and consistency, saying that steadiness matters more than short bursts of motivation.
- Spoelstra said the Heat must find more productive rotations, including when pairing Bam Adebayo and Ware, as 21-20 Miami looks to improve its midseason form.