Whiteside on Game 5 of series: ‘Not going to be easy’
His performance could determine reality of Game 6.
MIAMI — Hassan Whiteside woke up in Game 4, but it still wasn’t enough for the Heat to get a win.
Miami’s $98 million center had a series-best 13 points and 13 rebounds in 26 minutes on the court, but the Heat still fell to the 76ers 106-102 — going down 3-1 in the Eastern Conference firstround series — after failing to hold on to the 10-point lead they had late in the third quarter.
“Coach just said, ‘No regrets,’” Whiteside said. “Coach gave me — what did I play? — 26 minutes tonight. I just tried to make the most of whatever time I was out there.”
Whiteside’s 26 minutes is the most coach Erik Spoelstra has given him in the series. He hadn’t played more than 15 minutes in a game against Philadelphia. Following Game 3, he said, “Coach wants me to just be in the corner and set picks.” After Saturday’s loss, he attributed his better play to the additional time.
“That’s really what it is,” Whiteside said. “Guys were playing great. It’s really upsetting we lost.”
Spoelstra said his big man “responded in a great way. That’s what I love about the playoffs. These are opportunities to grow, to develop your competitive character and the only way to develop that is to actually be in these type of playoffs.
“It’s intense. It’s emotional. You get uncomfortable. That’s what we all signed up for. That’s why we love this. It beats a regular day job. But I was really encouraged the way he responded to everything the last week.”
Whiteside was up against Sixers center Joel Embiid, who was in his second game back following surgery to repair a fractured orbital bone. Embiid had 14 points and 12 rebounds Saturday after racking up 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks in Game 3.
“I really got to match up with his minutes more than the last game,” Whiteside said.
“I love the physicality,” said Embiid. “I missed the shots that I was making the other night. I thought I did other things to have an impact, especially defensively.”
Though Whiteside had more rebounds than Embiid, the Heat as a whole were out-rebounded 57-43.
“Guys got to box out and just get the ball,” Whiteside said. “It’s a big part of the game, the biggest part of the game, rebounding.”
The 7-foot center said the team especially struggled with long rebounds.
“With them shooting so many threes, a lot of times it’s bouncing out to the threepoint line,” he said. “Those are the ones we struggle with.”
Whiteside and the Heat will travel to Philadelphia for Game 5 Tuesday. Their season is on the line, and Whiteside’s performance could determine whether they come back to Miami for a Game 6.
“It’s a tough team,” Whiteside said. “It’s not going to be easy. It’s the playoffs. It’s why 50 percent of the league is fishing and on vacation right now.”