SI's Mannix: Hassan Whiteside "Seized The Moment"
The Hassan Whiteside craze continues to gush through the South Florida airwaves.
Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix joined 560 WQAM this morning to discuss the Miami Heat center's arrival on the national radar and whether anyone could have seen it coming.
"It's kind of a right place, right time situation," Mannix said on The Joe Rose Show. "Miami needed a big man, they needed someone that can clog the paint and give them a defensive presence.
"Whiteside was that guy and given the opportunity -- you have to give him credit for this -- he stepped in and he seized the moment."
Whiteside is averaging 12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks in the month of January and the Heat have won three of the last four games in which he logs at least 25 minutes. Mannix credits the seven-footer's conditioning as one of the main reasons for his development because he's always had the ability.
"He's always had talent," Mannix said. "He's always been a defensive guy. Even in college if you go back to those days, he's had these instincts."
Miami is third in the NBA in defensive efficiency in the month of January, in large part to Whiteside anchoring the defense. The Heat will be looking to win their third straight when they face the Bucks tonight in Miami.
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