Miami Heat: Hassan Whiteside perseveres, despite team’s struggles
The Miami Heat fell short again against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night, but at least Hassan Whiteside continues to shine.
Another day, another Miami Heat loss.
In today’s edition of Game Day Observations, we will decipher Hassan Whiteside’s contribution to the Tuesday night matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. While the team fell short 104-92, the big man had himself a vintage game, with 21 points and 23 rebounds.
First Quarter
Whiteside’s first rebound comes from a Rodney McGruder missed 3 (the Heat are now 0-of-5 from the field to start the game), and he’s fouled by Jared Dudley to boot.
He grabs another off an Allen Crabbe missed shot, and even goes coast-to-coast, with a Euro-step to the basket. He missed the layup, but there was still beauty in the attempt.
His first score then comes off a McGruder missed reversed layup, as Whiteside cleans up the mess with a strong dunk.
A few rebounds later, and it’s clear the center is going to have himself an active night.
Which is especially important given that Miami has somehow only scored four points so far, with 4:47 left to go in the first quarter.
(Talk about an embarrassment.)
Whiteside blocks Crabbe as he tries to get to the rim, and it’s time for him to rest. Bam Adebayo takes over at 4:08.
Second Quarter
The Great Wall makes his return around the 8:09 mark, and immediately grabs a rebound off of a Dudley missed 3.
Then he graces the Heat with another dunk, after Wayne Ellington misses one from downtown too.
Whiteside grabs a couple more rebounds, but he’s now 2-for-8 from the field.
(Pros and cons I guess?)
Then, because this game wasn’t hard enough to swallow so far, he decides to take his customary 3-point attempt, as he’s left all alone in the corner. Does it go in? No. Maybe one day.
At the half, Whiteside has seven points on 3-of-10 shooting, alongside 12 rebounds.
Third Quarter
Whiteside is back to gobbling up rebounds left and right. Josh Richardson misses a jumper? He’s there to collect the board. D’Angelo Russell can’t get the ball to drop? The big man is all over it.
He also carries on with the dunks, as McGruder lobs one in the air for Whiteside.
Rebound and dunk, rinse and repeat.
(He does sneak a layup in off a Dwyane Wade baseline dish too though.)
At 3:59, Whiteside deserves a break. Adebayo steps up, and gives his fellow 7-footer some breathing room.
Fourth Quarter
Whiteside returns around the eight minute mark, and is fouled while battling for a rebound off a missed Richardson free throw.
Now he’s getting fancy, as he takes the ball down the lane, spins to the hoop, makes the layup and draws contact.
(Who doesn’t love a good and one?)
He’s finally heating up offensively period it seems, as he tips in a missed floater by McGruder.
He’s also drawing more contact, but unfortunately isn’t feeling too great from the charity stripe tonight.
Suddenly, there’s under a minute left. The Heat are down 100-90, and Russell just missed a trey. Whiteside gets his 23rd rebound of the game, and with 22.2 left to go, comes out to call it a night.
He finishes the loss with 21 points and 23 rebounds, proving that even though Miami is still struggling, the big man is doing everything in his power to bring some success back to South Florida.
(In a Vice Nights jersey, no less.)
Next. Are the Miami Heat in need of another true point guard?. dark
The Miami Heat travel to Chicago to take on the Bulls on Friday night, at 8 PM ET.