Miami Heat RTD: What We Are Excited For This Season

Apr 9, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) pressures Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Can Hassan Whiteside Live Up to the Hype?

By Chris Posada (@CPoTweetsStuff)

If the Miami Heat are going to re-establish themselves as the center of attention in the NBA, then the thing I’m excited for the most is the question mark at its center.

It took 48 games for Hassan Whiteside to go from Basketball Nomad to someone that could be a top-5 center in the league, finishing with averages of 11.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks, in just 23.8 minutes a night. Whiteside finds himself anchoring a Heat defense that has shuffled centers in and out of its lineup for the better part of five seasons.

But with that comes high expectations surrounding a relative enigma. Is this real? Franchise centers don’t just appear out of nowhere – or Lebanon – and take up residence in Miami. This isn’t trading for Alonzo Mourning or Shaquille O’Neal; this is finding a diamond in the most obscure of roughs.

Of course, there are reasons for that. Issues with attitude have plagued Whiteside since being drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2010. Even during this magical (for him) season, his attitude came into question a few times, whether it was trying to brawl with Alex Len of the Suns, or cross-check the Celtics’ Kelly Olynyk for no reason, to being benched during a game in Washington for perceived poor body language by Erik Spoelstra, which may or may not have carried over to the following night’s absence against the Kings.

Now we can add to the mix a possible max-contract extension next summer to the list of things bouncing through Whiteside’s head. Money can be major motivation, especially to a guy who has shown big interest in his rating in a video game, and can be a driving force for a player looking to cash in.

The flip side is if what if Whiteside feels like he’s not getting fair amount of attention on a loaded (on paper) offense that doesn’t have the desired effect on his stats? What about if he’s not getting more than the 24 minutes – assistant coach Dan Craig alluded it might hover around 25 minutes – he averaged this past season? Will Moody Whiteside make an appearance?

Just more questions. That’s what surrounds him.

For all the talent the Miami Heat possesses, if they are to make a challenge in the Eastern Conference, Hassan Whiteside needs to be at the center of it.

Next: Watch the Throne