1 day Ago
Despite not earning significant playing time until January, Kel’el Ware delivered one of the best rookie big man campaigns in Miami Heat history. During exit interviews, Ware explained how playing alongside Bam Adebayo became easier throughout the season. Ware is already looking forward to next season.
“I feel like that just comes with more reps playing with each other,” Ware said. “You know, just feeling each other out more, knowing where each other needs to be, making sure we stay spaced, and like I said, just keep getting reps and steady learning. For me, learning his spots, and him learning my spots.
” Ware averaged 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.
1 blocks on 55.4 percent shooting, leading all rookies with 15 double-doubles. His postseason performance may have led to a drop in production, but it provided valuable experience he can take into next season.
"I’m still going to say getting stronger,” Ware explained. “Yeah, I’m going to say that. It was getting stronger before the season started, and it’s still getting stronger.
Until I get to that point, then I’m just going to continue getting stronger.” PAUL PIERCE CLAIMS PAT RILEY IS “SINGLE-HANDEDLY” RUINING HEAT CULTURE Despite being one of the primary figures who built the Miami Heat into a successful organization, Pat Riley is facing considerable criticism following two consecutive first-round exits. On the Speak show for Fox Sports , Paul Pierce explains why Riley deserved most of the blame for the Heat’s recent shortcomings.
“I feel like Pat Riley is kind of like single-handedly tearing down Heat Culture,” Pierce said. “You run the face of the culture in Jimmy Butler out, and you see him in Golden State thriving and having an opportunity to push Golden State to the next round. You have got to understand that other superstar players watch this.
They’re talking in locker rooms. They talk on All-Star weekend. They talk in the summer when they’re working out like ‘man, do we want to go down there and really play under the Heat Culture with these types of things going on?’ I really believe some things have to change within the Heat Culture.
They have to revamp it, realign the rules, get a new memo, or something.” Pierce was one of the first people to publicly call out the Butler and Heat tenure, which faced more tension behind the scenes than most expected. As of now, the Heat’s success since 2020 appears to be attributed mainly to Butler.
JEFF TEAGUE ADAMANTLY SAYS PAT RILEY NEEDS TO RETIRE AFTER DISGRACEFUL PERFORMANCE Losing to a superior team is one thing, but getting blown out at home in a must-win elimination game by 55 points is another thing entirely. On the Club 520 Podcast show, Jeff Teague reacted to the Miami Heat’s beatdown at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers. “They should retire Pat Riley right there,” Teague explained.
“It’s time to go, Pat. I feel them, though. This is my theory.
You know y’all not about to win, so why the (expletive) we got to travel back to Cleveland? Yeah, let’s just look like we can’t compete. Like, let’s not make it close. I mean, we were trying the first three games.
We lost. But the last game, let that (expletive) cook bro. I legit would have walked into the locker room and said, ‘(expletive), I know y’all are not trying to fly back to Cleveland for one more night.
’ If we’re playing good that first quarter, let’s go to work. We're hoopers now. We like to play.
But if they start beating our (expletive), take me out.” The most significant offseason move the Heat made last year was signing Alec Burks. All things considered, he was solid throughout the year.
But it was clearly not enough, even if the Heat had kept Jimmy Butler. With more clarity regarding Butler's future absence, the Heat will need to make several moves to compensate for his departure. Bryan Townes is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI.
He can be reached at [email protected] or on X @bryantownesjr11. Follow our coverage on Facebook.
