Cavs showcase possible ceiling of Heat’s new frontcourt in latest loss

Heading into Wednesday’s matchup against the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers, some could say the Miami Heat’s newly formed frontcourt resembled that of the Cavs. However, the game’s result shows Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware could have some work to do as a duo. 

Cleveland dominated in the paint with a 30-point advantage against the Heat. The Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley pairing had full control on both ends— finishing with a combined 25 rebounds between the two. Mobley especially feasted, totaling 22 points on 67% shooting and 15 boards in a double-double effort. 

Donovan Mitchell’s game-high 34 points on 14 of 23 from the field didn’t help Miami’s case.

Since his starting lineup insertion, this has been Ware’s worst outing yet. The big man was a non-factor on both ends, contributing just five points and four rebounds with zero stocks. It was a true learning experience for the rookie, who seemed to get out-muscled in the paint by the Cavs’ length. 

Aside from the difference in paint points, the Heat also finished a minus-12 on the glass. Ware’s underwhelming four boards was a big factor for that disadvantage. But from an offensive standpoint, the shooting efficiency was much stronger out of Cleveland’s big man combination.

Granted, Ware only attempted six shots on the night and managed to make two of them. With the offensive upside he has shown he’s capable of, his reps and volume need to be higher. It will be crucial that Ware continues to prove he has a reliable motor on both ends.

Adebayo, on the other hand, did his job in putting together a strong effort. The All-Star big posted 21 points and 9 rebounds on 7 of 13 shooting, including knocking down a pair of triples on four attempts. 

The Heat stuck around for the majority of the night despite multiple Cavs’ runs. Their comeback hopes looked promising following a 43-point third quarter, which was the second highest total in the period on the season. Ultimately, Cleveland’s two-way talent posed to be too much to overcome. 

Look for a bounce back outing from Ware in the coming days, with Miami set to open a four-game road trip in San Antonio on Saturday.