NBA playoffs 2018: Hassan Whiteside blames new role for struggles

Joe Rodgers

NBA playoffs 2018: Hassan Whiteside blames new role for struggles image

Hassan Whiteside is still not happy about his role and reduced minutes.

After Friday's (AEDT) Game 3 loss to the 76ers in which the Heat big man played just 13 minutes, Whiteside blamed his coaches for changing his role in the offense.

“It's just different, man,” Whiteside told reporters. “I feel like our offense is a lot different. I'm not as involved in as many dribble handoffs as I was and postups as I was in the regular season. That's what coach wants.

"Coach wants me to just be in the corner and set picks. That's what he wants. I've just got to trust it.”

MORE: 76ers' Ben Simmons on the physicality of the playoffs:'I played Australian football, so I'm used to it.'

Whiteside finished with five points, two rebounds and four fouls. 

He didn't hold back in venting his frustrations earlier this month after playing 20 minutes against the Nets before being benched for all of the fourth quarter and overtime.

"A lot of teams don't have a good center," Whiteside then told reporters. "They are going to use their strengths. It's bulls—. It's really bulls—, man. There are a lot of teams that can use a center."

It was more of the same Friday. After telling reporters about how little he’s used in the Heat’s offense, Whiteside said Joel Embiid "lives a big man's dream" with the Sixers.

 

“They run enough plays for him that he's going to get his numbers,” Whiteside said. “I don't really get caught up in that. He lives a big man's dream. He gets the ball, he gets the post up every other play. They pretty much run a lot of stuff through him and Ben Simmons. His shot attempts are going to be there.”

During the game it was easy to notice Whiteside's frustration during the 20-point loss. 

Whiteside signed a four-year, $98 million contract in 2016 but has seen his numbers and playing time drop this season while dealing with a plethora of injuries.  

 

Joe Rodgers