Spoelstra challenges Heat’s double-big frontcourt: ‘It’s about, ultimately, the scoreboard.’ Herro returns
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) daps up center Kel’el Ware (7) during the first half of an NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 26, 2025, in Miami.
ORLANDO
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wants the double-big frontcourt pairing of Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware to work. Spoelstra is giving the duo an opportunity to prove they deserve to play more minutes together.
But so far this season, the results have been underwhelming and Spoelstra has been blunt in his assessment.
“I just want to see that group, when we play bigger, just for it to be a plus,” Spoelstra said before the Heat took on the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night at Kia Center in an NBA Cup quarterfinal elimination game. “So we have some work to do there. It should be a very good defensive group, but that’s a group that hasn’t been able to defend so far, and we’ve got to continue to work at that.”
Entering Tuesday’s game in Orlando, the Heat has been outscored by a lopsided 12.5 points per 100 possessions in the 123 minutes that the 6-foot-9 Adebayo and 7-foot Ware have played together this season. Among the Heat’s 39 two-man combinations who have logged at least 100 minutes together this season, the Adebayo-Ware combo has the worst net rating.
“It’s about, ultimately, the scoreboard,” Spoelstra continued on what he wants to see from the Adebayo-Ware frontcourt. “So defensively, I see it as a pairing that could really be good defensively. Recover ground, rebound really well, protect the rim really well. So far, it hasn’t necessarily been that. Offensively, I’m willing to work through it because it changes some of the driving angles. But I’m willing to do that as long as it defends at a high level.”
The issue is the Heat has allowed 117.9 points per 100 possessions with Adebayo and Ware on the court together for a defensive rating that would rank 25th among the NBA’s 30 teams this season. This is after the Adebayo-Ware frontcourt was effective as a defensive pairing last season, allowing just 108.5 points per 100 possessions to outscore teams by 4.6 points per 100 possessions in 541 minutes together last regular season.
“I haven’t really looked at the numbers,” Adebayo, 28, said when asked why the defensive and overall metrics have been worse for the double-big look so far this season. “Obviously, when we play together, we need to take it personal that Spo wants to switch the lineup from a two-big lineup. But, we’ll do our homework, we’ll get in the film, and we’ll get better.”
Bam Adebayo #13 high fives Kel’el Ware #7 of the Miami Heat during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 05, 2025 in Philadelphia. Emilee Chinn Getty Images
Those struggles have led to Spoelstra recently starting games with the Adebayo-Ware frontcourt and then going away from it completely in the second half of the same game.
It happened in Friday’s loss to the Magic in Orlando, when Adebayo and Ware started the game before Ware was benched for the entire fourth quarter.
Then in Saturday’s loss to the Sacramento Kings in Miami, Adebayo and Ware again started the game before Spoelstra made a change to begin the second half by moving Jaime Jaquez Jr. into Ware’s place in the starting lineup. Adebayo and Ware did not play together in the second half of that contest.
“I just got to work on it, get more reps at it, and then just get better at it,” Ware, 21, said of what needs to improve to get more minutes alongside Adebayo. “That’s it.”
Ideally for the Heat, the Adebayo-Ware combination would be productive enough to be the Heat’s consistent starting frontcourt to maximize Ware’s minutes. But Adebayo and Ware have only started 10 of the Heat’s first 24 games this season together despite both being available for 18 of those games.
Instead, Adebayo entered Tuesday with starts in all 18 games he has been available for this season. Entering Tuesday, Ware has started 16 games and played as a reserve in eight games this season.
“Just being locked in,” Ware said of regaining Spoelstra’s confidence in the Heat’s double-big lineups. “Going out there and showing him that we can do it, showing him that lineup can work.”
SPO’S WISH
How much does Spoelstra appreciate what Adebayo and guard Davion Mitchell provide on defense for the Heat? Spoelstra wishes he can have more than one of Adebayo and more than one of Mitchell.
“Bam is really the guy that anchors everything for us defensively,” Spoelstra said following Monday’s practice. “I’ve said it to the team, we would be an incredible defensive team if Bam could defend the pick-and-roll with the fives. But if he could also be on the weak side, being the weak-side defender at the same time. I don’t think that’s possible to split him and have him guard two areas at once.
“We would also be really good if Davion could guard the ball and then also guard who they bring up on a switch. So I’m trying to figure out how to make those things happen.”
INJURY REPORT
The Heat is fully healthy for Tuesday night’s NBA Cup quarterfinal game against the Magic in Orlando.
Heat guards Tyler Herro (right big toe contusion), Pelle Larsson (right hip flexor tightness) and Mitchell (right groin tightness), who were all listed as probable, are available to play on Tuesday.
Vlad Goldin (G League) and Dru Smith (left hip contusion), who were listed as questionable, are available against the Magic.
The only Heat player ruled out against the Magic is Terry Rozier (not with team).
Meanwhile, the Magic will be without star forward Franz Wagner on Tuesday against the Heat after he sustained a high ankle sprain during Sunday’s loss to the New York Knicks. This is a big loss for Orlando, as Wagner is averaging a team-high 22.7 points per game this season and scored 32 points in the Magic’s win over the Heat on Friday.
The Magic will also be missing Jamal Cain (G League), Colin Castleton (G League), Orlando Robinson (G League) and Moe Wagner (left knee injury recovery) against the Heat.
This story was originally published December 9, 2025 at 9:44 AM.
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Anthony Chiang
Miami Herald
Anthony Chiang covers the Miami Heat for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and was born and raised in Miami.
