Kel’el Ware learned last night that he isn’t good enough to guard a top player, yet. He is “a pigeon.” He needs to take what Ja Morant said about him and channel it into the next games. He needs to take it into the offseason. Kel’el Ware needs to take over a lot of defensive responsibilities from Bam Adebayo. If seven footers can shoot three-pointers, then seven-footers can successfully guard on the perimeter.
Heat gave up the switch
Lead Heat Writer Brady Hawk tweeted a good point. He wasn’t sure why the Heat conceded the switch to have Kel’el Ware on Ja Morant on the final play. Spoelstra said that usually the defense is better with help and not leaving players isolated.
So, Kel’el Ware got the treatment that comedian Kevin Hart parodied of his father, “you gonna learn today.” Davion Mitchell responded too late with help defense on Morant because he already moved Ware back enough and started his fadeaway shot.
Morant had to do with Jenkins firing
The Grizzlies could replace the Lakers as the team with the most “player leverage.” Dan Devine of Yahoo Sports writes about the increased usage of Ja Morant since the firing of Taylor Jenkins. Morant didn’t like the change in the offense from the previous season. He made his concerns known publicly and privately as per an ESPN article after Coach Jenkins was fired.
The team went back to more pick-and-roll sets that put the ball in Morant’s hands. An interesting quote from a rival GM said it all, “Does he sell tickets? Yes. Is he a Top-25 player when healthy? Yes. Could he win multiple playoff series as the best player? No. Not sure you can even win one. Plus he is always hurt.”
Heat team growing in chemistry
Longtime Heat beat writer Ira Winderman saluted the Heat last night. In his “Winderman’s view” column, he observed that the Heat had the look of a team returning from a week on the road. But, they also pushed back on the Grizzlies many times during the game.
Coach Spoelstra also highlighted a difference, saying that a month ago, the team would’ve lost by a blowout playing the second night of a back-to-back. The Heat have progressed a lot during the ten game losing streak. Coach Spoelstra and his staff may be doing the best coaching job in the NBA (depending how the Heat fare in the playoffs.)
The Heaters must remember this game. The difference between being a “professional player” and a “player with excuses” is accepting the anger at losing on the last shot. But then, knowing that a defensive switch can be changed or help needs to come earlier.
Then, storing the memory away until the Heat play the Grizzlies again. Waiting for the moment to guard Morant again and winning the battle.
