Udonis Haslem Takes Charge Against Mitchell Robinson’s Rebounding

MIAMI, Fla. — The Miami Heat faced a tough reality check in a recent matchup against the New York Knicks. In a high-scoring contest that ended 140-132 in favor of the Knicks, the Heat struggled to control the boards, particularly when it came to Mitchell Robinson. The Knicks’ center showcased his prowess, racking up an astonishing eight offensive rebounds in just 14 minutes of play, leaving Miami with a clear area for improvement.

Immediately after the game, Heat legend Udonis Haslem recognized the need for a strategic response. He reached out to Miami’s center, Kel’el Ware, with a straightforward message: it was time to dissect Robinson’s game film. “I texted Kel’el Ware right after the game and said: ‘Get all the film with Mitchell Robinson…watch every offensive rebound he got on you,’” Haslem shared during his show.

Haslem’s directive was met with swift acknowledgment from Ware, who understood the gravity of the situation. “He said: ‘You’re absolutely right, I’mma get the film and it won’t happen again,’” Haslem recounted, highlighting Ware’s determination to learn from the experience.

With the Heat set to face the Knicks again on Monday, the focus will be on how well Ware and the team can implement the lessons learned from their previous encounter. The rematch comes quickly, meaning Ware has just a few days to study. The pressure is on for Miami’s young big man.

Robinson’s performance was critical; those eight offensive rebounds led to 20 points for the Knicks, which proved to be the game’s difference. Even Knicks coach Mike Brown expressed excitement after the game, saying, “Freakin’ Mitch Robinson. Oh my god. 8 freakin’ offensive rebounds! Way to go Mitch!”

The rebounding issue is not new for Miami, which has now given up a league-leading 197 offensive rebounds this season. Haslem did not hold back when discussing the team’s struggles on the glass. “Once again we talk about everything they do great offensively, but no rebounds, no rings fellas. We know that,” Haslem said.

The Heat displayed strong offensive efforts, with Norman Powell scoring a career-high 38 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr. adding 23 points. However, these contributions were overshadowed by their inability to secure defensive rebounds. Compounding the issue, Bam Adebayo missed his fifth straight game.

All eyes will be on the rematch against the Knicks on Monday night in Miami. Can Ware stop Robinson after watching all that film? Will the Heat finally box out better? The answers will come quickly.