Miami Heat 1-on-1: What will 2018-19 play have in store for fans?

And finally, do you really think the new and improved Hassan Whiteside is here to stay?

Tachauer: Oh for sure. The 2017-18 Hassan Whiteside is dead and gone, never to see the light of day again. It was apparent from the minute he stepped foot on that court during preseason. He’s a lighter man now, and not just literally. He has shaken off all the bad vibes from last year, and is ready for redemption. Now that doesn’t mean he’ll have headlining numbers every game from the jump. For example, while in Miami’s season opener against the Magic, he grabbed 18 rebounds (alongside scoring 12 points), he finished with just nine points and 10 rebounds versus the Washington Wizards. But right now, stats aren’t as important as the fact that his attitude is completely turned around, and the effort is there. As long as he stays motivated and dedicated, the rest will come back with time.

Johnson: Absolutely. Whiteside more than likely knows that Miami might be his last chance at a career. He said teams would be looking for a player with his skill set this summer, but the truth is that 7-footers are a thing of the past. Guys like Lauri Markkanen and Kristaps Porzingis use their height in different ways, while players like DeAndre Jordan and Rudy Gobert have localized their games to the most efficient points. But few teams rely on 20 and 10 7-foot tall centers to make a nightly splash (Joel Embiid is the exception, not the rule). With that in mind, as well as Whiteside’s effort to start the year, I definitely believe his newfound heart is hear to stay; he really has no other choice.

Claps for another season.