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Miami Heat: The Hassan Whiteside Story Is Great, But He’s Overrated

By Noah Torr

Nov 21, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) at the foul line against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) at the foul line against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) dunks the ball as Charlotte Hornets center Frank Kaminsky III (44) looks on during the first half in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) dunks the ball as Charlotte Hornets center Frank Kaminsky III (44) looks on during the first half in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Whiteside Is A Stat-Stuffer

The basic definition of a stat-stuffer is a player who fills up all the boxes on the stat sheet – simple enough.

So, in Whiteside’s case, he can theoretically score 14 points, collect 12 rebounds, and grab five blocks. Those numbers look good, right? What could be the problem with being a stat-stuffer?

Well, you should look at the bigger picture.

Whiteside hunts for stats, such as blocks, but what happens is that he loses sight of the bigger picture.

A stat-stuffer cares about how good they look, not how well they make their team look.

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Whiteside averaged 3.7 blocks last season. That is a feat that is not reached by many big men these days. But the way that Whiteside tallied those blocks hurt Miami’s overall defense.

Whiteside “hangs out” in the paint and waits for the 6-foot-4 guards to come into his paint so he can swat them down. This is where his nickname, “Agent Block,” comes from.

He sags off who he is guarding so that he can swat down the small guy and start a transition break on the offensive end.

This can leave the guard with two options. Try and throw it over Whiteside, or lob it to his center, who is open because Whiteside went for the block.

The latter is more likely.

This is a textbook example of what I am attempting to explain:

Whiteside did not stay between Adams and the basket, which every defender is taught to do since middle school. He would rather slide over to Westbrook to get the block than trying to guard Adams. It leaves the Heat’s interior defense vulnerable.

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