Q: I already know you and others who cover the team are going to defend Erik Spoelstra and spin the truth. But he can’t coach forever and when the day finally comes for him to go the heck away, he will be remembered as someone with an agenda. Kel’el Ware has been Miami’s best player and dropped 28 and 19 against a playoff-caliber team. For him to disregard that by icing him out on offense, and cutting his minutes in half, while Bam Adebayo can stink up the joint and only manage to score nine points is just poor coaching and shows how his intentions aren’t pure. I’m sick of seeing talent be wasted, and marked as low-impact all because he’s too petty and lets his feelings get in the way of adapting to players strengths. Incoming false remarks about Bam’s defense and all the other garbage non-sense folks give him credit for, it really is ridiculous. How do you guys sleep at night selling lies about who Erik is as a man?– Carlos, Coral Gables.
A: Did you watch Tuesday night’s game? Did you not see what Sandro Mamukelashvili did against Kel’el Ware at the outset? Would you reward that? Or would you demand more of a young, developing player, so he appreciates the expectations of the next level? Bam Adebayo is what he is, with a resume in place. And he, too, in his first two years also was forced to endure his growing pains, as he often has mentioned. If you want Kel’el Ware to be his best self, then allow him to be coached into his best self. If you just want numbers, then, yes, play him regardless of the defense or the effort.
Q: In a league that’s sort of moving away from centers unless you’re a superstar, does it make sense to hold on to a Kel’el Ware-type player if a star becomes available? He’s closer to Rudy Gobert with a jumper than an Alperen Sengun or Chet Holmgren. – T.G. Queens, N.Y.
A: If you’re asking if Kel’el Ware at this moment should be considered untouchable, the answer is no. But, as with all potential trade considerations, it’s a matter who you are trading for. If you’re asking if Kel’el should be the line drawn when it comes to a potential deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, then I believe such a line would be drawn in the wrong place.
Q: Ira, what happened to those who said the Heat were better off without Tyler Herro in the line up? – Joel.
A: They saw the league catch up to a Heat offense that lacks much in the way of players who can create their own offense.