If you're wondering why Whiteside isn't getting touches:
He has ZERO energy on this play. Barely even walking to set his screens. He completely misses one on Redick to spring Tyler loose.
A better screen results in Embiid needing to help and an open lane for a Whiteside lob.
He has ZERO energy on this play. Barely even walking to set his screens. He completely misses one on Redick to spring Tyler loose.
A better screen results in Embiid needing to help and an open lane for a Whiteside lob.
Keep watching.
JJ bails TJ out, and they reset. This time, Whiteside sets a better screen for JRich, but does that thing where he crab walks on the roll. How is anyone supposed to lob it up to him?
JJ bails TJ out, and they reset. This time, Whiteside sets a better screen for JRich, but does that thing where he crab walks on the roll. How is anyone supposed to lob it up to him?
Btw, it's not like Whiteside can claim exhaustion. This is 90 seconds into the game.
Oh, let's check in on Whiteside's defense.
Here's the play before that resulted in Philly's first points of the game. Look at where Whiteside is when Redick gets the ball in the lane.
Surely, he denies the drive, right?
Here's the play before that resulted in Philly's first points of the game. Look at where Whiteside is when Redick gets the ball in the lane.
Surely, he denies the drive, right?
Nope.
Now this is a decent series for Whiteside.
Embiid's size prevents him from scoring, and he hustles to get back on D. 👍
But it ends in a dumb foul. Whiteside has a bad habit of pushing guys in the back on rebounds.
Embiid's size prevents him from scoring, and he hustles to get back on D. 👍
But it ends in a dumb foul. Whiteside has a bad habit of pushing guys in the back on rebounds.
(Btw, that defense by Embiid reminds me of Shaq. His size alone prevents JJ from throwing the easy lob to Whiteside. It slows things down and allows the Sixers to recover. He's so damn big.)
Here's Whiteside "setting screens in the corner."
Dragic looks to his side of the court, but JRich can't spring free of Saric. JRich tries to reset the screen, but Whiteside botches the screen again.
Dragic gives up and looks to JJ and TJ.
Dragic looks to his side of the court, but JRich can't spring free of Saric. JRich tries to reset the screen, but Whiteside botches the screen again.
Dragic gives up and looks to JJ and TJ.
And that's basically the end of Whiteside's first stint. It was clear he wasn't at the top of his game from the start and, in the playoffs, you don't have time to deal with that. You have to go with guys who are playing well--or at least trying hard.
The Heat will need a better version of Whiteside if they are to have any hope of winning this series. If he sets better screens, he'll get the ball more. Maybe then he'll be more engaged on both ends.
But if he comes out with the same hackneyed approach, he can expect another game of mostly sitting on the bench.
/The end.
(cc: @NekiasNBA, @dramil13)
