Hassan Whiteside: Road To The Max

[gom]

just in case that link ever dies... PRICELESS

[gom]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/youngwhiteside/status/671209064777580544[/tweet]

[Mars]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/EthanJSkolnick/status/671369163185725442[/tweet]

[DayofMourning]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/EthanJSkolnick/status/671369163185725442[/tweet]

That's good news. He's got potential as a FT shooter. He shouldn't be shooting in the 50s.

[Mars]

Hassan appears to be trending up... Last 5 games he's shooting .633 (19-30 FT).

[Slot Machine]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/EthanJSkolnick/status/671369163185725442[/tweet]

That's good news. He's got potential as a FT shooter. He shouldn't be shooting in the 50s.

I hate his form. He needs to use his fingers more instead of his palm.

[RexBoyWonder]

He just needs to be above 55% to kill Hack a Hassan for good.

[Mars]

I hate his form. He needs to use his fingers more instead of his palm.

Career 53% free throw shooter:


Career 87% free throw shooter:


Career 90% free throw shooter:


...I'm just saying.

[Slot Machine]

I hate his form. He needs to use his fingers more instead of his palm.

Career 53% free throw shooter:


Career 87% free throw shooter:


Career 90% free throw shooter:


...I'm just saying.

It's always a great idea to use the exceptions instead of the rule.

[Mars]

It's always a great idea to use the exceptions instead of the rule.

[Slot Machine]

It's always a great idea to use the exceptions instead of the rule.

What?

All those guys shot with their fingertips. I'm not talking about having the ball in your palm before the release, I'm talking about the release. Hassan releases his FTs from his palm instead of guiding it out with his fingertips which is why it seems like he's throwing the ball at the rim sometimes and also why his FTs are so inconsistent. Sometimes he's on the mark a few times in a row, other times he's airballing free throws.

[QUIZ]

Hassan appears to be trending up... Last 5 games he's shooting .633 (19-30 FT).

Like I said on the previous page I'm confident that he's capable of being a 65%+ guy.

To put is all in perspective the Heat are currently averaging 1.028ppp. That's the equivalent of shooting 51.4% from the FT line. So if Hassan levels off at 60% and a team hacks him, thats 1.2ppp which is way better than our season average.

Mathematically this strategy will prove to be silly and teams will stop once Hassan has a large enough sample to prove his consistency.

I've said this dating back to last season, he's not in the same hack worthy class as Dummond and DeAndre Jordan.

DJ was a 39%FT shooter last season or .78ppp which was way worse than the Clippers league leading 1.124ppp which is why the Spurs continued to spam it. It's all about the math.

[Mars]

It's always a great idea to use the exceptions instead of the rule.

What?

All those guys shot with their fingertips. I'm not talking about having the ball in your palm before the release, I'm talking about the release. Hassan releases his FTs from his palm instead of guiding it out with his fingertips which is why it seems like he's throwing the ball at the rim sometimes and also why his FTs are so inconsistent. Sometimes he's on the mark a few times in a row, other times he's airballing free throws.

Go back and look at Hassan's free throws. He doesn't shot put them from his palm. They come off his fingertips. His problem is a lack of consistency in his release point, follow through and, as a result, the arc of his shot.

His free throw form has a tendency to stray. Whether a result of physical fatigue or a mental block, it's the fatal flaw of any player that struggles from the line.

Every above average to great free throw shooter developed precise mechanics through repetition; to the point of it almost being obsessive-compulsive. The forms of great shooters may vary, but they've all locked into a release point that's true.

Rick Barry shot granny-style without the use of his fingertips at all... but his mechanics epitomized machine-like precision.

[gom]

Catching more attention and turning heads.

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-hassan-whitesides-ascent-to-stardom-miami-heat/

Whiteside, outside of Durant, is the most appetizing free agent. He'll choose his team.

[Burnie Riley]

Whiteside Q and A with The Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2015/12/04/hassan-whitesides-alternate-desired-careers-chef-or-secret-agent/

Spoiler:

Was there ever a time where you wondered if this was going to work out?

No, I never wondered if it was going to work out. I just kept praying on it, and you just kind of hope for the best. I look at things day-by-day. I just feel like, you look at things in the short-term and they don’t seem as long. Like I could have looked at it like, ‘Oh, man, I’m this far from the NBA.’ But I just kind of looked at it like if I do something day-by-day to get closer to your dream, something good’s got to happen.

Of all the places you’ve played, what’s the strangest one?

China was pretty strange.

Anything specific?

Guangzhou was pretty different. Just because of the different cultures and stuff, and the things that they ate were very different. They were eating pigeons and cats and all kinds of stuff.

What’s the most memorable moment of your career so far?

Probably getting my first start in the NBA, and probably the day I got my first triple-double are probably two of my most memorable moments. Just because I was such a die-hard Bulls fan. I grew up loving the Bulls. Everything about them. And it was [in Chicago] … my brother grew up worshiping the Bulls, and me as the younger brother, I just worshiped them with him.

What has this last year been like for you?

It’s been exciting. I’m really seeing the hard work pay off. I’m really excited for me and my team’s future.

I know you spent a lot of time lobbying to get your NBA2K rating higher …

(Laughs). Yeah.

Now that you’ve gotten it higher, what is it like to play as yourself in the game now?

Sometimes it was frustrating [at first], but it’s really exciting, because it’s actually you, and you can kind of see what people think of you.

Was there a guy you really wanted to face more than anyone else when you came into the league?

Yeah, there were a couple guys. I wanted to play against Shaq. That’s probably who I wanted to play against because I looked up to him so much growing up. Playing against Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan.

You got to play against Garnett and Duncan, at least. Did it feel special playing against them?

Yeah. Especially with Tim Duncan, you realize why guys are as good as they are. He’s probably got one of the quickest jump-shots I’ve ever seen, especially when it comes to big men.

Do you still feel in awe sometimes of being a teammate of guys like Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade?

Yeah. I’ve always looked up to those guys. I remember back in ’06, I used to pretend to be Shaq and my friend used to pretend to be D-Wade, and just catching lobs from him. Just pretending that, and now I’m doing it in real life. It’s crazy sometimes how life works out.

What was it like growing up in Gastonia, North Carolina?

It was country. It was kind of like a small town. It’s a small town and we kept to ourselves. It was a real small town.

Now that you’re living in Miami, do you miss the small-town atmosphere?

No, I don’t miss it. I don’t miss it at all.

Favorite movie?

Either Scarface or Shawshank Redemption … I’d say Shawshank Redemption.

Why’d you go with Shawshank?

It’s got a great storyline, and it’s not what you’d expect … it’s got a surprise ending, and it’s a great story.

Who is your favorite rapper?

Drake.

Why Drake?

He can rap, he can sing … he’s got a lot of different talents.

Do you have a favorite Drake song?

Favorite song? Hmm. … I don’t have a favorite song. Oh, wait. You know, hold up. My favorite song isn’t by Drake. It’s actually, the song that gets me going is, you know from the Rocky movie? ‘No Easy Way Out?’ That’s my song.

f you could have three people come to dinner, who would they be?

Will Smith, Muhammad Ali would have to be there, and Dave Chappelle.

Favorite food?

Lasagna.

Because?

My mom made it. It took me a long time to figure out my favorite food.

It was a big process?

Yeah, it was a big process. I probably figured it out two years ago.

Really?

Just because I always eat it, and I’m always up to eating it, probably with ground turkey.

Ground turkey?

Yeah, it tastes just like beef. It’s just healthier.

Favorite TV show?

Family Guy.

How come?

Because it’s just random and funny. It’s a funny show. I used to like “The Chappelle Show,” too, but Family Guy is probably my favorite show.

You did say you wanted to have Chappelle at dinner …

You know you’ve got to bring laughter to the table.

If you had to have another job besides being a basketball player, what job would you have?

Hmm. I would probably just be a chef, or something.

So you like to cook?

Yeah. It’s OK. I didn’t really have any other [goals]. I always wanted to be a basketball player. But if I had to choose something else, chef. Or secret agent or something.

What’s your go-to dish to make if you’re cooking?

My go-to dish? Something breakfast, because I love breakfast. You can’t go wrong with pancakes, eggs, bacon.

If you have the choice, is it more fun to score, or to block a shot?

It depends on how you’re blocking it, and how you’re scoring. (Laughs)

OK, so what’s the difference?

If you go up and dunk on somebody, I think that’s a pretty fun way to score. And if they try to go up and dunk on you, I think that’s the best block you can get.

To stone someone at the rim?

Yes.

You’ve become a starter and established yourself. So what are your personal goals now?

Just be the best Hassan Whiteside I can be. Whatever it is, I just try to go out and be the best player I can be every night, and just try to leave it all out there for my teammates, so when my teammates look at me, they be like,”Oh Hassan, he’s giving his all, and he’s working hard for us, so we’re going to work hard for the team.”

[KingDavid]

Welp, if Hassan wants to participate more often late in games, he'd need to protect the perimeter when teams go small. If he wants more minutes overall, he's going to need to make that midrange a serious part of his game. He can do it, imo.

[Bishop45]

Welp, if Hassan wants to participate more often late in games, he'd need to protect the perimeter when teams go small. If he wants more minutes overall, he's going to need to make that midrange a serious part of his game. He can do it, imo.

He's been hesitating on it. From what I've heard, well just on that one presser from Wade when he said that he was proud of Hassan for not taking a few elbow jumpers, and what I've seen, Spo pulling Hassan right after he takes a jumper... and it's happened a few times now; I don't really think he's being encouraged to shoot at all.

Idk if it's as bad as it seems, but the trust levels seem a bit murky. I think he could hit at least 40% and Hassan PnP could help us play a little faster and get him involved a little more

That hesitation mid-post hasn't been good for us at all

[KingDavid]

Welp, if Hassan wants to participate more often late in games, he'd need to protect the perimeter when teams go small. If he wants more minutes overall, he's going to need to make that midrange a serious part of his game. He can do it, imo.

He's been hesitating on it. From what I've heard, well just on that one presser from Wade when he said that he was proud of Hassan for not taking a few elbow jumpers, and what I've seen, Spo pulling Hassan right after he takes a jumper... and it's happened a few times now; I don't really think he's being encouraged to shoot at all.

Idk if it's as bad as it seems, but the trust levels seem a bit murky. I think he could hit at least 40% and Hassan PnP could help us play a little faster and get him involved a little more

That hesitation mid-post hasn't been good for us at all

It would change everything. Not the ones that he forces over the defense, I don't like those and while his release is high, it is also too slow. But a bit of a pseudo PnP to the low-midrange area would blow the lane wide open. But they've got to let him grow down there. Those post-ups are just swarms waiting to happen.

[Bishop45]

Welp, if Hassan wants to participate more often late in games, he'd need to protect the perimeter when teams go small. If he wants more minutes overall, he's going to need to make that midrange a serious part of his game. He can do it, imo.

He's been hesitating on it. From what I've heard, well just on that one presser from Wade when he said that he was proud of Hassan for not taking a few elbow jumpers, and what I've seen, Spo pulling Hassan right after he takes a jumper... and it's happened a few times now; I don't really think he's being encouraged to shoot at all.

Idk if it's as bad as it seems, but the trust levels seem a bit murky. I think he could hit at least 40% and Hassan PnP could help us play a little faster and get him involved a little more

That hesitation mid-post hasn't been good for us at all

It would change everything. Not the ones that he forces over the defense, I don't like those and while his release is high, it is also too slow. But a bit of a pseudo PnP to the low-midrange area would blow the lane wide open. But they've got to let him grow down there. Those post-ups are just swarms waiting to happen.

The slow wind-up face up jump shot has not been pretty. He's been overthinking way too much. Catch-n-shoot/Pnp is all I would like to warrant. Like these last year

@ 1:02 and 2:32

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqnzq1OrF1Q[/youtube]

@:51

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6gt1W5XkaY[/youtube]

and @ 2:36

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgnSB-k_sek[/youtube]


I'm not sure what they're doing with him on offense this year but hopefully they find a way to feature him later on

[KingDavid]

He's been hesitating on it. From what I've heard, well just on that one presser from Wade when he said that he was proud of Hassan for not taking a few elbow jumpers, and what I've seen, Spo pulling Hassan right after he takes a jumper... and it's happened a few times now; I don't really think he's being encouraged to shoot at all.

Idk if it's as bad as it seems, but the trust levels seem a bit murky. I think he could hit at least 40% and Hassan PnP could help us play a little faster and get him involved a little more

That hesitation mid-post hasn't been good for us at all

It would change everything. Not the ones that he forces over the defense, I don't like those and while his release is high, it is also too slow. But a bit of a pseudo PnP to the low-midrange area would blow the lane wide open. But they've got to let him grow down there. Those post-ups are just swarms waiting to happen.

The slow wind-up face up jump shot has not been pretty. He's been overthinking way too much. Catch-n-shoot/Pnp is all I would like to warrant. Like these last year

@ 1:02 and 2:32

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqnzq1OrF1Q[/youtube]

@:51

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6gt1W5XkaY[/youtube]

and @ 2:36

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgnSB-k_sek[/youtube]


I'm not sure what they're doing with him on offense this year but hopefully they find a way to feature him later on

It's probably slower now because he put on so much muscle.