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Taylor Jenkins Praises Performance from Kel'el Ware After First Win
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- Taylor Jenkins Praises Performance from Kel'el Ware After First Win
The Milwaukee Bucks have finally gotten over the hump and secured their first win of the season after taking down the Indiana Pacers 110-102 on Monday night and one of the biggest standouts came from one of the newest Bucks on the roster.
While guards Tyler Herro and Ryan Rollins led the way scoring-wise with 23 and 19 points respectively, possibly the biggest impact on the floor came from Bucks backup center Kel'el Ware , who came over the Bucks from the Miami Heat in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade over the offseason.
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Big Game from Ware
Ware delivered 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench while adding a massive 14 rebounds and one steal and for the first time this season, Ware gave a glimpse of the talent he possesses that may make him the hidden steal of the Bucks' return from the Heat.
Milwaukee Bucks center Kel'el Ware (9) drives against Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
He's one of the more unproven Bucks on the current roster, playing in just his second NBA season, but Ware's combination of size, tenacity and athleticism present him with tremendous upside that with more time on the court could present itself in a huge way for the Bucks.
He does everything that a big man needs to do on the court, even playing behind center Myles Turner, and his ability to deliver on both ends of the court stood out to head coach Taylor Jenkins in a big way.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) shoots past Milwaukee Bucks center Kel'el Ware (9) during the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Jenkins' Praise
"Very big. Starting with Kel [Ware], he was huge. I loved how we was running the floor. We got him in moments where it was pick-and-rolls, great lob threat... He's great on the defensive side when it comes to rebounding," Jenkins said (via Bucks ).
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The value that Ware is able to bring for the Bucks cannot be understated and for a team that may be guard-heavy on the surface, the greatest strengths of the team trend more toward physicality than it does raw scoring finesse.
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins reacts in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Fiserv Forum. Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Ware is a critical part of that physicality and the biggest issue with him at this point isn't whether or not he will be able to perform, it's whether or not he'll be able to play to such a degree that he'll warrant the starting slot over Turner .
That's the only problem that Jenkins has to address in regard to Ware at this point. Having both him and Turner as options does leave the door open for the Bucks to run a big-heavy lineup rotation, something they experimented with against the Pacers.
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But the impact that Ware has even in his limited minutes coming off the bench leaves a powerful message for what he can do with an expanded opportunity on the floor. As the season goes on, more performances like he had against the Pacers could very well grant him that opportunity.
