Post-Game Grades: Hassan Whiteside Sparks Much Needed Heat Win
By Wes Goldberg
114. 110. Final. 90. 77
Hassan Whiteside was the spark the Heat needed to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 114-90 Sunday at Staples Center.
Whiteside was the first Miami Heat player to put up at least 20 points and 15 rebounds off the bench since Alonzo Mourning did it in 2001 and the first player to reach 16 rebounds in a game in the last two seasons. He finished with 23 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks.
Chris Bosh paced the team in scoring, with 34 points on 13-of-20 shots in 39 minutes. Dwyane Wade had a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists.
The Heat will hang in Los Angeles through Tuesday, when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers and try to win consecutive games for the first time since November 23.
B. <em>Stats: 17 Min, 1-3 FG, 0-0 3FG, 2-2 FT, 5 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PTS</em><p>Chris Andersen started the game but Whiteside started the second half. That was more a compliment to Whiteside’s game than something against Birdman. The combination of him and Whiteside gave the Heat a much better defense against the Clippers’ lob game than they had in the first go around this season. </p>. C. Miami Heat. CHRIS ANDERSEN
A. <em>Stats: 39 Min, 13-20 FG, 2-5 3FG, 6-7 FT, 7 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 34 PTS</em><p>Chris Bosh thrived as the team’s top scorer and, no doubt, playing at power forward while Whiteside and Andersen banged around down low helped in focus on putting up points. When Miami’s centers are contributing and defending well, it takes a lot off Bosh, who can focus on what he does best. We saw that today. </p>. C. Miami Heat. CHRIS BOSH
MARIO CHALMERS. D. <em>Stats: 18 Min, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PTS</em><p>Mario Chalmers got into foul trouble early and didn’t get a chance to contribute down the stretch, being benched the entire fourth quarter.</p>. PG. Miami Heat
C+. <em>Stats: 30 Min, 2-4 FG, 1-3 3FG, 0-0FT, 5 REB, 6 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 5 PTS </em><p>Cole did a good job staying out of the way of the offense while playing plus defense on Chris Paul. With six-and-a-half minutes left in the game, Cole stole the ball from Jamal Crawford and found Wade for a fast break dunk that extended the lead to 12 points. </p>. PG. Miami Heat. NORRIS COLE
SF. Miami Heat. LUOL DENG. C+. <em>Stats: 34 Min, 4-9 FG, 2-5 3FG, 0-0 FT, 3 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 10 PTS </em><p>Deng did enough here and there not to be a huge negative. In games when Wade, Bosh and a third banana (in this case, Whiteside) are getting the job done, that’s usually fine. Deng had a tough assignment on defense, starting the game on Paul and getting switched onto Griffin often.</p>
Miami Heat. JAMES ENNIS. C. <em>Stats: 8 Min, 1-2 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 2 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PTS</em>.. SG
C-. <em>Stats: 24 Min, 3-9 FG, 0-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 3 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 6 PTS </em><p>So I guess we’re out of the Granger Zone?</p>. SF. Miami Heat. DANNY GRANGER
<em>Stats: 5 Min, 0-4 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PTS</em><p>With Whiteside in some foul trouble and Granger struggling, Erik Spoelstra went with Haslem at power forward along with Andersen at center when subbing Chris Bosh out in the second half. It didn’t work, with Haslem missing multiple easy shots (because he was left open) and not helping much on defense. After five minutes, Spo saw enough. </p>. PF. Miami Heat. UDONIS HASLEM. D+
SG. Miami Heat. DWYANE WADE. B+. <em>Stats: 36 Min, 5-15 FG, 0-2 3FG, 7-9 FT, 4 REB, 10 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 17 PTS </em><p>Dwyane Wade struggled shooting but was able to contribute by getting his teammates involved and hitting some nice shots later in the game.</p>
Miami Heat. HASSAN WHITESIDE. A+. <em>Stats: 29 Min, 10-13 FG, 0-0 3FG, 3-4 FT, 16 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 23 PTS </em><p>Hassan Whiteside wins MVP for the game. Aside from his eye popping double-double, he affected multiple shots inside and gave the Heat an energy off the bench that sparked a much-needed win. Check out that box score. 23 points and 16 rebounds stands out, but look at his two blocks and two steals. Plus, he didn’t commit a single turnover. He’s getting better every game and even had a nice little 15-foot jump hook in the second half. </p>. C
A-. <p>Spo’s adjustment to start Whiteside in the second half no doubt had an impact on this team. It was a move that Heat fans were clamoring for, and Spo made the right decision. A weird move was giving Haslem minutes over Shawne Williams, but Spo had a pretty short leash on that, pulling UD after five minutes.</p>. HC. Miami Heat. ERIK SPOELSTRA