Top Ways For Hassan Whiteside To Become An Elite Center
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The Miami Heat seem to have found a hidden gem in center Hassan Whiteside. The 25-year-old has come out of nowhere to become one of the best up-and-coming big men in the NBA. He's already set Heat records with his rebounding and blocking, giving Miami some much-needed stability underneath the rim. Even though Whiteside has a ton of raw talent, he needs to refine some of his skills if he wants to become one of the elite centers in the NBA. Here are the top ways for him to do that.
Become A Better Passer
Most of the top centers in the NBA are very skilled in the art of passing. A great example for Heat fans to think of is when Shaquille O'Neal played in Miami. His ability to get the ball to his teammates after drawing defenders to him was truly impressive. As Whiteside becomes a more consistent scorer the opportunities for him to move the ball will grow. He's going to get double-teamed more and more, giving him great opportunities to find the open man and get the ball to them quickly.
Work On Post-Up Game
Whiteside has shown to be a solid scorer around the basket, but an area of his offense that needs to develop is his post-up game. If he can catch the ball with his back to the rim and work his way down it would go a long way towards making him a better-rounded offensive player. He hasn't been asked to post-up much so far this season but as he gets more attention from opposing defenses he'll need to start receiving the ball farther away from the rim.
Improve Man-To-Man Defense
Right now Whiteside is relying on his blocking ability to keep the opposition from scoring, but as he faces the better big men around the league he'll need to be able to keep his man in check. Making it difficult for his man to receive the ball is key, as is the ability to push his man further from the basket before they receive the ball. The more distance between his cover and the basket, the more difficult their shot will be.
Develop A 10-to-15-foot Jumper
Not every big man in the NBA has the ability to score from outside of the painted area, but a player as young as Whiteside, with the raw ability that he possesses, has the potential to do just about anything. He has shown that he can hit shots right around the 10-foot range but the consistency has been lacking. If Whiteside can expand his range another five feet and hit those shots on a regular basis, that will open up the inside for his teammates. Drawing the opposing big guys away from the basket will allow the Heat to have more opportunities at the rim. That includes Whiteside, who will be able to drive more after drawing his defender out to cover his shot.
Stay Out Of Foul Trouble
One of the biggest issues that Whiteside has had to deal with this season is getting into foul trouble. There are several things that can lead to a player of his size having to stay on the bench due to having too many fouls early in the game. Improving his footwork is an important point that is undoubtedly already being addressed during practice. Whiteside has been ok playing man defense but his help D has been great.
