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Miami Heat 1-on-1: What is Hassan Whiteside bringing to the team?

By Rahmeaun Rahming

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 9: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat reacts to a play during the game against the Indiana Pacers on November 9, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 9: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat reacts to a play during the game against the Indiana Pacers on November 9, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – OCTOBER 24: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat looks on against the New York Knicks during the first half at American Airlines Arena on October 24, 2018 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. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – OCTOBER 24: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat looks on against the New York Knicks during the first half at American Airlines Arena on October 24, 2018 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. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Sometimes it feels like every time he touches the ball, the possession dies… is Whiteside a black hole on the offensive end?

Rahming: Currently, Whiteside has a usage rate of 22.6 percent (minimum 10 possessions). That puts him fourth on the team in this category. The field is tight with no huge dropoff, until spots eleven and twelfth (Bam Adebayo and Rodney McGruder). Because no one outside of Wayne Ellington is a proven spot up shooter, the floor is rarely spaced enough for a big man to operate down low, without any serious post moves. So although he may not actually be a black hole, it does feel like it when watching. This especially is the case when he picks up a turnover for an offensive three second violation. Most fans may get upset at him for these types of turnovers, but I don’t. I believe that as a big man, he has proven he can score, does his work early and gets excellent position with his defender sealed under the basket; therefore, he should immediately get the ball. It’s not his fault the perimeter players didn’t see him.

Ebrahim: Well, let’s be real… he’ll most definitely never be mistaken for Nikola Jokic or Marc Gasol, with the way the ball barely ever moves when he gets in on the low block. After the first seven games this season, he hadn’t registered a single assist; only three players in NBA history had gotten more playing time and not recorded an assist. Now I’m sure there’s bad luck sprinkled into some of those non-assists, but with a sample size that just continues to get larger, it’s about time to accept the fact that once Whiteside gets the ball on the block, it’s a wrap. I wonder if it falls more so on himself and maybe his concentration on “getting his 2K rating up,” or his inability to understand how defenses are playing him. If it’s the latter, you’d imagine that Spoelstra would’ve benched him already, but it might be the price tag that forces him to continue to play him.

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