Heat’s Erik Spoelstra explains pulling Kel’el Ware early from 55-point loss

MIAMI – As the Miami Heat got dreadfully swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers, one aspect of the contest that was frustrating was another forgettable performance from rookie Kel’el Ware. While the rough outings from the Heat center are invaluable, as said by head coach Erik Spoelstra, he further explains the usage of Ware after the 55-point loss on Monday night.

Heat’s Kel’el Ware learning “fundamental lessons”

Ware would once again start the game as he’s been a mainstay for the majority of the second half of the season, but would only play the first two minutes and 43 seconds of the first quarter before being pulled from the contest. He would once again be attacked early on by veteran Cleveland center Jarrett Allen, who had 10 points in the opening period.

He wouldn’t return until the last 35 seconds of the third quarter, where the game was already well out of hand as Miami was down 46 points at 106-60. Spoelstra would express after the game that “these are fundamental lessons” that Ware is learning, saying it’s not an “indictment” on him, as he also explained the matchup against a seasoned player like Allen.

“It’s not necessarily an indictment on one player, these are fundamental lessons. The thing I like about Kel’el is he has a coachability to him. He has an ambition to him, you know, he’s going into a playoff series where, yes, he’s watched games, and he’s watched all the film, but he hasn’t like really been in something to really know.”

“Against a very experienced center, he’s been in 21 playoff games, or whatever, Allen, but like I said, he’s played 500 more games, but all these little lessons…all the little nuances that happened in the playoff series. It’s different than the regular season, and until you go through it, you don’t really understand. I wish this could have been more games, because I want more experience, more lessons, all that stuff.”