Mar 22, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are underdog threats in the Eastern Conference to make it to the NBA Finals in 2016, if healthy. On paper, the team is great and will be led by perennial NBA All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, glue-man Luol Deng and the dragon in Goran Dragic.
Florida’s best basketball team has the pieces to make a legitimate deep run in the playoffs. We all know what can be expected of the aforementioned players, but the biggest question mark is arguably the biggest player on the team and biggest NBA story since Linsanity: Hassan Whiteside.
Whiteside went through quite a journey to make a return to the NBA and became known from early December onward (last year). With his skill and name not being a surprise anymore, questions arise if his half-season super play was a fluke or can be improved upon.
His repertoire of shot-blocking, athleticism, rebounding and intimidation is what Miami has been missing since Shaquille O’Neal departed, and greatly wanted during their most recent Big-3 era. Plus, his presence helps send Bosh back to his natural position of power forward.
Throughout the 2015-16 campaign, Whitside will need to show some improvement in his game, such as a post-game and mid-range shot; more maturity on and off the court; and consistency, along with health over the course of an 82-game season and not the 48-games he played prior.
Capitalizing off of last year is a must for Whiteside if he wants Miami to be taken seriously this season. It also doesn’t hurt that a good season for the 26-year-old means he’ll be getting paid during the 2016 free agency period.
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