The Miami Heat’s starting lineup, particularly in the frontcourt, has been a contentious conversation each of the last two years.
The Heat have deployed 10 different five-man units to open games through 24 games — mostly due to injury — including seven times with Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware together.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has continued to experiment with the two playing together after they spent most of the latter stretch of last season alongside together. But the big man duo has been uninspiring to begin the new season.
After practice Monday, Spoelstra explained what he wants to see from them together moving forward.
“Defensively, I see it as a pairing that could really be good,” he said. “They can cover ground, rebound really well and protect the rim. So far, it hasn’t necessarily been that.
“Offensively, I’m willing to work through it because it changes some of the driving angles. But I’m willing to do that as long as it defends at a high level.”
In 275 non-garbage-time possessions together, Ware and Adebayo have recorded a minus-13.4 NET Rating, according to Cleaning The Glass. That ranks in the 9th percentile. Its 106.2 offensive rating and 119.6 defensive rating in those minutes grade out in the 5th and 25th percentile, too, respectively.
We know how much Adebayo anchors the Heat defensively; he is their defensive structure. Ware has shown flashes as a rim protector. He’s been more disciplined around the rim, but is still a work in progress against bigger, more physical 5s, and off-ball as a rim protector.
Correlation doesn’t equal causation, but their struggles offensively have persisted through two seasons. More spacing and connectors will be required. But in the long run, these issues can’t continue to persist defensively — especially when it places more burden on Adebayo’s shoulders to cover up for everything.
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