Hassan Whiteside Isn’t Perfect
Although the Heat as a whole are under constant scrutiny, Hassan Whiteside gets as much criticism as anyone on the team.
Despite the fact that he averaged 17.0 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game last year, making him one of the league’s top big men.
He should always be doing more offensively. Going harder defensively. Playing smarter overall.
And Sunday night surely had a large part of Heat Nation saying just that.
The 28-year-old recorded 8 points, 11 rebounds and 1 block in 19 minutes. Not necessarily an ugly stat-line, but not exactly mind-blowing either. And reaction to his performance went beyond just numbers. Whiteside seemingly lacked energy, was disengaged and let his frustration get the best of him (cue the five personal fouls).
Sound familiar?
Maybe just a little.
But that’s ok. Because the center can’t be expected to have a perfect game, night-in and night-out. And it doesn’t mean Whiteside isn’t putting in the work. Nor does it reflect that he doesn’t care.
After all, partner-in-crime Dragic finished the afternoon with just 6 points and 3 assists in 14 minutes. That doesn’t take away from the EuroBasket gold medal he earned with the Slovenian national team this summer. Or make him any less of an elite point guard.
It’s preseason. The first preseason game, at that. A game that came on the tail-end of a whirlwind week filled with media day and training camp.
Next: The end of an era, and the start of a new one at All U Can Heat
Miami Heat Basketball is officially back. And while Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Hawks probably won’t be remembered come next April, it certainly helped Heat Nation get a sense of what they can expect in 2017-18.