Checking in on Kel’el Ware now that the Miami Heat rookie has started the last 15 games. It’s a decent sample size from which to draw some statistical data.
Let’s jump in with 10 stats to describe Ware’s first 15 games as a starter.
- Opponents are shooting 2.5% better than their average within 6 feet of the basket when Kel’el Ware is the closest defender, according to NBA.com’s database. Opponents are shooting 0.5% better within 10 feet.
- Before you ask, those marks haven’t been better since Ware entered the starting lineup. Opponents are shooting 4.4% better than their average within 6 feet and 2.1% better than their average within 10 feet of the basket when Ware is the closest defender in the 15 games since coach Erik Spoelstra turned to a two-big lineup.
- That two-big lineup is working, with the Heat posting a defensive rating of 106.1 when Bam Adebayo and Ware share the court. That would rank second in the NBA, behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- But Ware’s defensive struggles – common for a rookie center – are highlighted when Adebayo goes to the bench. The Heat have a DRTG of 117.9 when Ware is on the court without Adebayo, a mark that would rank 27th in the league this season.
- As much as Adebayo supports Ware, Ware also supports Adebayo. The Heat’s DRTG slips to 112.4 (which would rank a ho-hum 12th) in the minutes when Adebayo is on the court without Ware.
- It’s a different story on offense, where the Heat are averaging just 110.1 points per 100 possessions with Ware and Adebayo on the court – a mark just below their season rating of 112.1.
- Ware ranks in the 71st percentile as a pick-and-roll roll man and averages 1.20 points per possession when finishing the pick-and-roll, according to Synergy data. Those are good marks, but you’d like to see the Heat find him for more than 1.8 attempts per game.
- Ware is also shooting 70.3% on 1.6 cuts per game, per Synergy, which can be logged in similar situations to pick-and-rolls.
- Ware needs to be more physical on the offensive glass. He’s averaging 1 putback attempt per game and converting those bunnies at a 45% clip, ranking in just the 20th percentile.
- Among 7-footers, Ware ranks 14th in 3-point attempts per game. He is shooting 32.9% on 1.9 3-point attempts per game, marks matched by only Victor Wembanyama, Lauri Markkanen, Kristaps Porzingis, Brook Lopez, Karl-Anthony Towns, Sant Aldama, Quentin Post, Chet Holmgren and Jay Huff.