The Miami Heat are building around Hassan Whiteside, which means that the young center needs to become a more willing passer.
With training camp well underway, the Miami Heat have been focusing on pace and space. Erik Spoelstra knows that without Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Heat won’t be able to rely on the strength of their isolation game to score points. It’s going to come from spacing the floor and moving the ball. That includes Hassan Whiteside, who has a notorious rate of not passing.
Over the last two seasons, Whiteside has an assist rate of just 1.9 percent–meaning that he contributed less than two percent of Miami’s field goals while he was on the floor.
If Miami is going to be able to generate points at a high rate this season, it will take Whiteside developing as a passer, something he believes he can do.
"“If guys are open I’m going to give it to them,” Whiteside said Thursday. “I think it’s really more so play-making and about my usage rate, how many times I touch the ball in that situation. So, I should have a lot more assists.”“I’m a great passer,” Whiteside continued. “I just have to show you all. Most of the time [last season] I was just the guy dunking the ball. I was giving people assists instead of giving out assists.”"
Spoelstra wants Whiteside not only to find the open man when he’s double teamed, but to also anticipate where his open shooters may be.
"“Now we’re trying to get him in spots where he can see the defense out in front of him and be aware of when help defense may come. I think that’s his next evolution. It’s not just who you are dealing with, but the next defender. And we’ve been working at that. He knows it’s something he has to work on.”"
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Whiteside quite clearly needs to be more willing as a passer. Too often he would opt to careen into a double team and put up an off-balanced shot than find a teammate. However, he does get a bad rap sometimes. Whiteside mainly got the ball in pick-and-roll situations, and it can be tough to dish out the ball while rolling to the rim–not everyone is as adept a passer as Draymond Green in this way.
However, it’s something the coaches will be working on him with, as well as passing out of the post while either facing away or toward the basket.
With so many veteran players gone, and after signing a brand new $98 million contract, Whiteside will be getting a lot more touches this season. He’ll be central to Miami’s offense, which could take on a four-out look. That only works if Whiteside is able to get his teammates the ball. So far, he and Spoelstra are confident he is making strides.