Former Miami Heat coach likes the team's direction

Van Gundy also has been impressed with the recent surge from second-year center Kel'el Ware. Ware has put together his most consistent efforts of his career, with the emphasis on effort. He's been everywhere, proving he can play with motor and force. Van Gundy coached Malik Allen, one of the Heat's assistants, in Miami, and is among those who praises Allen for the work with Ware.

"The last seven, eight games, (Ware) has been as dominant as any big in the league," Van Gundy said. "This is a legitimate leap happening right before our eyes."

For that and other reasons, one current quandary is whether Erik Spoelstra (once Van Gundy's top assistant and a long-time friend) keeps Ware in the starting lineup next to Bam Adebayo. Someone needs to come out of the starting group, with Norm Powell expected back to play with Herro for the first time. It won't be Adebayo. So that's three. Andrew Wiggins may be back against the Bucks on Wednesday also, after he's missed time with a hip flexor. So that's four. That leaves Pelle Larsson likely out, but still a debate between big (Ware) and small (Davion Mitchell, who has been exceptional as well).

Lowe has posed the question on other podcasts.

Van Gundy isn't too worried about this either, even as he acknowledges that going too small could create some offense, defense adjustments.

"Spo will figure it out," Van Gundy believes.