It may not be what many fans expected, but Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra says that he likes the Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware frontcourt duo. Spo notes that both players are in much difference place now than they were a few weeks ago, which has helped get these lineups off the ground recently.
In short, it does seem as if Spo intends on keeping - and perhaps even increasing - the Bam and Ware minutes moving forward.
And that's a duo that we've already begun to see grow over the last few games.
""I liked it. I think both are in a different place than they were six to eight weeks ago — three months ago — for different reasons. But that gives us a different look. And the versatility of being able to play the two of them together and pound the glass on both ends is a weapon for us.Erik Spoelstra
They both want to make it work. They both know where we have to improve to make it work… and I appreciate that.""
Over the last three games, the Bam-Ware frontcourt is averaging 14 minutes per contest. Perhaps most importantly, the Heat have played better in those minutes compared to earlier in the season.
In fact, there were points earlier on in the season when Spo flat-out refused to play Bam and Ware together. It appears that it is beginning to change and that Spo is now embracing the opportunity to make this frontcourt duo work.
Quite frankly, heading into the final stretch of the season, which will begin after the NBA All-Star break, there's an argument to be made that this is the biggest question for the Heat. Can Spo figure out a way to make the Bam-Ware frontcourt work?
If Spo can find a way to maximize the potential of a Bam-Ware frontcourt, it would certainly alter the way the Heat can build in the future.
Even though we know that the Heat would like to add a star player this summer, and how that may be plan A heading into the offseason, if that doesn't happen, there's at least some consolation that Miami knows what its plan B would be.
And in all likelihood, that would revolve around building the team around a nucleus of Bam and Ware, two of the team's most talented players. Throw in the fact that Kasparas Jakucionis is also beginning to turn heads with his impressive development, and the Heat may have a solid foundation emerging.
Spo likes the Bam-Ware frontcourt possibilities, and he's hoping for more growth from it. I'm not sure if there was that sense of clarity just a few months ago.