For the Miami Heat to beat the Toronto Raptors, they need to get Hassan Whiteside the rock.
After averaging 11.1 shot attempts per game after the All-Star break in the regular season, Hassan Whiteside has been limited to just about seven attempts per game in these playoffs. He went from bread and butter to, I don’t know, honey mustard. Something you use sometimes but not all that often. The Miami Heat have to get Whiteside more involved against the Toronto Raptors.
Look, don’t get me wrong, I like watching Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson put their 19 All-Star games together in the post and back down puny guards. I also like cocaine but, as my sponsor tells me, everything in moderation.
Whiteside’s true shooting percentage of 66.7 percent is second best among used players behind only Sir Luol Deng. He’s been impactful on the court, with a 107.3 offensive rating and 95.8 defensive rating. But he can be soooo much betterrrrr.
Whiteside’s a rhythm player who needs the ball. Too many times this series he has seemed off a step. Late in Game 2, Joe Johnson tried to find Whiteside for a lob and alley-oop but Whiteside, assuming Johnson was taking another contested shot, watched it fly awkwardly above his head. Turnover. Fart noise.
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Erik Spoelstra also took him out after he gave up two mid-range shots to Kyle “oh, wow, it went in” Lowry when he hesitated to close out on the pick-and-roll late in the game. I don’t know if you can chalk that mental lapse up to not getting his touches, but I do know I see a more engaged Whiteside when he’s scoring, flexing and feeling impactful.
Raptors center Jonas Valancuinas has been out-playing Whiteside in the paint. He’s making more for himself with offensive rebounds and put backs. Maybe he’s not as moody as Whiteside is and more willing to do it himself. The Heat don’t have that in Whiteside. Instead, they have someone who can dominate an entire game on both ends of the court in the way Valancuinas cannot.
They just need to get Whiteside the ball. Get him to scream. Get him to flex. Get him going, and the rest of this series should go smoothly.
More heat: Mental lapses could be costly for the Heat
Heat vs Raptors
Series: 1-1
Place: AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami
Time: Saturday, May 7, 5 pm ET
TV: ESPN