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Miami Heat: Let’s get back to showing Hassan Whiteside some love

By Allana Tachauer

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 1: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat reacts to a play during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 7, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 1: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat reacts to a play during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 7, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Where’s the love for Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside?

It’s hard to remember a time when Miami Heat fans were so divided.

Between arguments about president Pat Riley‘s vision for the team and debates over whether or not Justise Winslow should be on the trading block, Heat Nation simply isn’t on the same page this offseason.

Well, except when it comes to one topic: Hassan Whiteside.

It’s rather ironic that the driving force of tension this past season is now the glue keeping the fanbase together, but unfortunately South Florida just doesn’t want the big man around anymore.

The frustration is understandable. 2017-18 certainly wasn’t No. 21’s year.

On paper, the regression is visible; Whiteside averaged 14.0 points,11.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks a game. He saw time in just 54 contests on the season, playing for 25.3 minutes per matchup. And his best game came on Miami’s season opener, when he totaled 26 points and 22 rebounds.

There was certainly an attitude shift, too. The 29-year-old vented via both reporters and social media, criticizing head coach Erik Spoelstra’s utilization of him on the year. His body language was sullen more often than not, on and off the court. And he generally seemed over it all.

Definitely not what fans want from a headliner, who recently received a maximum contract.

But after an entire season of putting Whiteside down, maybe it’s time to start building him back up again.

From the jump, the center came into the league with a chip on his shoulder, something that he’s been steadily working on shaking off. After being drafted in 2010, Whiteside went between playing overseas and in the NBA’s Developmental League for four years, before finally being given a chance by the Heat.

So it’s safe to say he started off his transition into the league, carrying around a lot of self-doubt.

He worked through it though, and gave Miami 11.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 48 games from the jump.

And to think some called Riley crazy for taking a chance on the 7-footer.

Remember his 12 blocks against the Chicago Bulls on January 25, 2015? Whiteside set a franchise record in that game, becoming the first player since Manute Bol to record 12 blocks off the bench in 25 minutes or less.

And his success didn’t stop there.

In 2015-16, Whiteside averaged 14.2 points, 11.8 points and 3.7 blocks per contest. During that season, he became only the seventh player in NBA history with multiple triple-doubles produced by points, rebounds and blocks.

He also reached 300 blocked shots in 94 games with the Heat, making him the fastest player in franchise history to reach that mark. On top of grabbing his 1,000th career rebound, the fastest in Miami history to do so.

Whiteside finished the year as the league’s leading shot-blocker.

Is your love for the center coming back yet?

2016-17 was really Whiteside’s time to shine.

He averaged a career-high 17.0 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a matchup in 32.6 minutes of play, and started all 77 of the games he saw time in.

He recorded five double-doubles in a row at the start of the season, a Heat record. Scored a career-high 32 points against the Philadelphia 76ers, only to then total 30 points and 20 rebounds in 27 minutes versus the same team, which made him only the second player in NBA history to post 30 and 20 in no more than 27 minutes. He ultimately finished as the league’s leading rebounder again, after setting a franchise record when he reached 936 rebounds on the year. And was the first Miami player to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a single season.

Sort of hard to ignore his talent now, isn’t it?

There’s no denying that Whiteside still has plenty to work on. And that he made a handful of mistakes this past year.

But is it fair to dismiss the guy after just one bad season? A season marked by injuries no less?

No.

Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinions, and with multiple solid free agents hitting the market next month, it’s not illogical to hope Riley moves the North-Carolina native. However, merely holding his 2017-18 run against him, seems like overkill.

And it appears Riley agrees.

"“Any time you lose in the first round, there’s a lot of emotion. Whatever happened then was two months ago. You move on and you make the best of it. I think that’s where we are right now. I expect a lot of out Hassan, contrary to what people might think about us trading him. We haven’t offered him to anybody, really, to be honest with you. So you go through an emotional period with a player and you deal with it and you come back and you work things out.”"

Perfectly said.

Next: Miami Heat: Lance Stephenson is not the free agency answer

The Miami Heat are standing by their center. Now it’s Heat Nation’s turn.

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