Hassan Whiteside Has Become A Legend For Miami Heat
By Jared Doyle
@outofboundsjay
Steve Mitchell- USA Today Sports
The sample size is extremely small, but already, Hassan Whiteside is becoming a legend right before our eyes in Miami. A player who as recently as three months ago couldn’t get 29 other NBA teams to even pick up a phone now has those same teams scratching their heads as to how they missed this potentially devastating center. Even before his game against the Chicago Bulls, it was evident in the Miami Heat‘s last two losses without him that Whiteside had become crucial to the Heat’s success.
It is no coincidence that since Whiteside has received a heavier minute load from coach Erik Spoelstra the Heat have won six of their last 10 games. Two of those losses came without Whiteside in the lineup, so really, the Heat are 6-2 with Whiteside in the fold. His ability to alter shots around the rim gives the Heat a whole new dimension on the defensive end, one they haven’t been able to exploit since the days of Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning.
To be compared to both of those Hall of Fame centers might be a little drastic, but considering Whiteside set a franchise record yesterday with 12 blocks in a single game all while playing just 24 minutes, the comparisons might be justified. Even the great Mourning was only able to notch nine blocks in game, which was the record before yesterday’s block party in Chicago.
If Whiteside can remain healthy and learn how to stay out of foul trouble, the rest of the league might want to worry. Both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh already look comfortable playing with Whiteside in the starting lineup, so it’s only a matter time before the rest of the team gets on board. Whiteside has already developed into a legend in Miami. Helping bring home another title would justify all of these comparisons tenfold.
Jared Doyle is a Miami Heat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @outofboundsjay, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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