Erik Spoelstra explains his strategic decisions surrounding the young center's limited minutes and the team's dynamic rotation.
As the Miami Heat prepare to face the Chicago Bulls for a third and final time for the regular season, Erik Spoelstra's predicament with Kel'el Ware continues. In Saturday night's matchup, the second-year center only played three total minutes, all in the first quarter, also the fewest in his career, finishing with two rebounds, a rebound, and an assist.
Spoelstra explained the decision behind benching Ware for the rest of the game, following the 125-118 loss.
"Every press conference ends up becoming about him," he said. "I really don't want it to be that. This is not an indictment on Kel'el. This game was so fast. They [Bulls] were playing small forwards at center. The advantage was the speed and quickness, in my opinion. It wasn't a typical game."
"It was just a very unorthodox game."
The Bulls finished the game with 34 fastbreak points compared to the Heat's 25. They were without a few key frontcourt pieces, such as All-Star Nikola Vucevic (rest), Zach Collins (right 1st toe sprain), and Jalen Smith (right calf tightness). Patrick Williams, listed at 6'6, was the team's starting center.
Ware had some vulnerable moments, especially when Bulls forward Dalen Terry finished a driving layup over the seven-footer. After that, the 21-year-old wouldn't check back into the game.
It's the polar opposite of when the Heat defeated the Bulls on their home court on Thursday night. Despite playing 12 total minutes, Spoelstra described Ware as "encouraging." He finished with 12 points, including three three-pointers made, four rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
There have been a few games when Spoelstra pulls Ware early, whether it be a lack of effort, mistakes on defense, etc. However, the Bulls' speed was a serious issue for the Heat to match and overcome.
This season has been filled with growing pains for Ware. There's no doubting the former first-round picks' talents, but that can only go so far without consistency. He's had a stretch of games of displaying dominance, effort, and impact throughout the regular season.
It was announced on Monday that Ware will participate in All-Star weekend as part of the Rising Stars game. He was selected to be on Team T-Mac [Tracy McGrady].
Also, Spoelstra alluded to balancing the rotation and minutes between Ware and Nikola Jovic.
"I have two talented young bigs," he added. "I have to find a way to make some of the lineups with Kel'el a positive."
Ware is the only seven-footer listed on the standard roster. As the trade deadline approaches, it will be interesting to see the potential transactions that could occur.
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