Whiteside would have won if he got more minutes and didn't get that injury that led to him being on the bench.
But it's working. Say what you want but Whiteside is a much mentally stronger and more focused player now than he was at the beginning of the season. I actually think him and Spo got a sort of respect for each other even if they don't like each other.
I love seeing Whiteside get excited when a play works even if he's being used as a decoy. I love how when Spo benched him with three minutes left during that final Hornets run, he didn't look upset or pissed off. He just looked ready.
Spo and the Miami Heats development squad is on some amazing underrated shyt. Richardson and Winslow's defensive growth plus their offensive growth is actually pretty insane.
Winslow is actually pretty damn reliable at shooting mid-range shots and his range has been steadily improving as is his confidence. You can tell he's been working with Wade too.
Richardson has improved as a defender like crazy. He's not nearly as handsy or prone to unnecessary fouls now. He also gambles a lot less.
And am I'm the only dude rooting for Green?
Dude seems like a legit hardworking dude and he always seems genuinely excited for the squad even when he isn't playing many minutes.
Just let him play with Richardson, Winslow, Deng, and Whiteside so his dumb defense can be covered.