Whiteside’s emergence means added pressure
MIAMI — Even before Hassan Whiteside’s struggles in Thursday night’s loss to the Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra emphasized that his big man has to recognize the added pressures that come with having emerged as a known quantity.
“Hey, welcome to this league. This league isn’t easy,” Spoelstra said as he reflected on Whiteside’s seven turnovers in Monday night’s loss to the Houston Rockets, the most by a Heat player this season. “Three years ago, I remember we would post him up and you could tell he wasn’t on anybody’s scouting report. He literally could just dribble in, shoot a hook and nobody was guarding him, really.
“I don’t say that disrespectfully to Hassan at all. But as he’s been more effective in there, people have the same stats we have. When he’s in the paint, it’s a high-percentage shot. If it’s outside the paint, he has to make other offensive reads to be able to generate up a different look. And I think he’s been making progress with that.”
It has not been unusual for opponents to adjust lineups and rotations with Whiteside in mind, whether it has been adding bigger bodies at the outset, or going smaller and challenging the Heat to adjust.
“We’ve been trying to put him in areas where he can see the defense in front of him, where he can make simple reads,” Spoelstra said before the Heat turned their attention to tonight’s visit by the Charlotte Hornets at the close of this twogame homestand. “The other night, that’s elite. I think that was a great experience for him. Not every team will have a Chris Paul that can literally read and surprise you on when to trap you and blitz you. But I think it’s good, because the ball will be in his hands. He’s going to have to make some decisions, not only in the post, but at the high post.
“But he’s been getting better. He just needs a ton of reps. He has to be absolutely committed in practice and player development on working on those reads like a quarterback would.”
With the Heat moving this season to more dribble handoffs and playing big men higher in the post, Whiteside has found himself having to mesh with a work already in progress amid his returns from a pair of lengthy injury layoffs.
“You know, the game is different,” Spoelstra said. “We talked about it before. He said, ‘Oh, the offense is different.’ Our offense is the same, big fella. We’re just asking you do some more things. And this is what you wanted, so there’s also responsibility that comes with that as well.” other side of the bridge.” ...
Whiteside’s recent jersey retirement at his Newark, N.J., high school will be chronicled on Saturday’s “NBA Inside Stuff ” on NBA TV.