Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside is oftentimes spending the final minutes on the team’s bench this season. That situation is something that is frustrating the veteran, who currently leads the NBA in rebounds per 48 minutes.
Whiteside spoke about his frustration after the Heat’s close 106-102 loss in Philadelphia on Thursday night. With 1:36 left in the game and the Heat clinging to a one-point lead, 76ers center Boban Marjanovic connected on two free throws after getting an offensive rebound before then being fouled.
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“It’s tough,” Whiteside said. “I consider myself one of the best rebounders in the NBA. That’s what I think I am. It’s all up to coach.”
In Whiteside’s 51 games this season, he’s averaging 12.2 rebounds per game, including 3.7 off the offensive glass. Since joining the Heat during the 2014-15 season, he’s never failed to average less than three offensive rebounds per contest.
Despite Whiteside’s comments, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t indicate a change was coming anytime soon.
“We’ve had enough of these painful ones and these possession games that we just have to get the job done,” said Spoelstra. “We’re one of the better rebounding teams in the league. In these moments of truth is where it has to get better.”
The loss ended the Heat’s six-game road trip that began back on Feb. 5. They went 2-4 on the trip that was broken up by the All-Star break and return home on Saturday night when they host the Detroit Pistons at American Airlines Arena.
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