Miami Heat: The good and the bad of Hassan Whiteside

Miami’s paint defense is elite, and that’s thanks to Whiteside’s improved maturity

Although Miami’s overall defensive numbers have recently taken a hit due to half the roster being out with injury, the team’s interior defense remains elite.

The Heat boast the second best opponent shooting percentage from within five feet of the basket. Miami’s opposition is shooting 53.6 percent from that area. Only the Utah Jazz, who also have an elite big man defender in Rudy Gobert, are better.

Whiteside’s personal numbers defending the rim are even more exceptional. Take a look:

Gotta love the no-call.

Whiteside’s level of excellence defending the rim may be surpising to some, considering that the big man is averaging a full less block than last year. But that’s exactly why he has improved.

Last season, Whiteside would often chase opposing players in futile hopes of trying to block every shot. This allowed Whiteside’s man to often find himself unmarked, in easy position for a dump-off pass, or a put-back basket. Here’s a prime example, from a late-season game against the Toronto Raptors:

Yes, DeMar Derozan blew by Joe Johnson so someone had to help. But Goran Dragic did a nice job contesting, meaning Whiteside did not need to leave Jonas Valanciunas, who only had to wait for the simple pass, and finish. This season, things are different. Miami’s defense has greatly benefited from Whiteside realizing he no longer needs to stat-chase.

There is, though, another aspect of the big man’s year thus far that is troubling.