Hassan Whiteside isn’t happy with the Miami Heat right now. Apparently the feeling is mutual.
The Heat fined Whiteside an undisclosed amount Sunday for “comments detrimental to the team,” a response to the big man’s locker room tirade after Miami’s overtime loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night.
Whiteside didn’t play in the game’s final 21 minutes, sitting out all of the fourth quarter and overtime as Heat coach Erik Spoelstra employed a smaller lineup to match up with the Nets’ small unit.
When asked about his lack of playing time down the stretch, Whiteside cut right to the chase.
“Man, it’s annoying,” the 7-foot center told reporters, via the Sun-Sentinel. “Why we matching up? We got one of the best centers in the league. Why we matching up? A lot of teams don’t have a good center. They’re going to use their strength.
“It’s bull—. It’s really bull—, man. There’s a lot of teams that could use a center. S—. That’s bull—.”
Whiteside was in just his second game back after missing the previous nine contests with a hip ailment, so it’s also possible Spoelstra wanted to limit his minutes. Regardless of the reason, Whiteside left Saturday night’s game frustrated and confused.
“It’s tough,” he added. “I don’t know man, it’s crazy. I don’t understand it.”
Miami will need an engaged Whiteside down the stretch: The Heat own the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 seed but now are tied with the eighth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.
