Heat’s Twin-Tower Experiment Gains Traction Heading Into All-Star Break
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The Miami Heat’s decision to pair centers Bam Adebayo and rookie Kelel Ware paid immediate dividends in the three games leading up to the All-Star break. Over 42 combined minutes, Miami outscored opponents by 68 points, giving head coach Erik Spoelstra new optimism about a lineup he had shelved earlier in the season.
“I think they’re both in a different place than where they were six, eight weeks ago, three months ago for different reasons,” Spoelstra said. “Playing the two of them together and pounding the glass on both ends is a weapon for us.”
The promising stretch came against three of the league’s bottom clubs, yet marked a sharp turnaround from an earlier stretch when Spoelstra avoided using the duo for 16 consecutive games. Injuries forced the coach to revisit the combination just before the break.
Adebayo believes activity, not simply rebounding, will determine the partnership’s success. “If we’re active on offense and defense, it looks great and it can help this team,” he said.
Ware Responds to Coaching Critique
Ware told Mark Medina of Essentially Sports that Spoelstra’s public criticism has not damaged their relationship. “It pushes me to want to get better even more,” the 20-year-old said. “I’m able to show up every day even through everything that is going on.”
Rozier Gambling Probe Details Emerge
Attorneys from Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz uncovered a text message from Terry Rozier—sent while he was with the Charlotte Hornets—stating he would leave a game early, according to Joe Vardon and Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. Despite the finding, the investigators could not persuade anyone outside the NBA to cooperate with the league’s gambling-related inquiry.
Herro’s Injury Timeline Defended
In a Sun-Sentinel mailbag, Ira Winderman examined Miami’s pursuit of a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference and rejected claims that guard Tyler Herro has exaggerated his injury absences.
Source: Hoops Rumors
