Hassan Whiteside makes his dramatic entrance
There were a lot of questions surrounding Hassan Whiteside as he stepped into his new role as the starting center for the Portland Trail Blazers, but he was electric and exceeded all expectations.
Whiteside delivered the performance all Blazers fans were hoping for on Wednesday night, despite the fact he could only play 26 minutes due to foul trouble he still thrived.
In place for the injured Jusuf Nurkic, Hassan managed to post a double-double, with 16 points and an incredible 19 rebounds with an additional 2 blocks as well. He showed he was capable of being the fearsome low post presence the Blazers desperately need in rotation while Nurkic recovers.
Welcome to Portland, Hassan. pic.twitter.com/eUJQml622c
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) October 24, 2019
He looked like the Whiteside of old for the first time in a while. The energy was there and he appeared excited to be apart of the Rip City culture which is an incredible sign for all the fans hoping he can return to his former self.
Not only were his numbers monstrous, but he did it while staying efficient. Whiteside shot 6-for-7 from the field and managed to go 4-for-4 from the free-throw line which is a beautiful sight to see considering he is a career 59 percent career free-throw shooter.
Look for Hassan Whiteside to continue to excel as he shoulders the main responsibility as the finisher and rim protector for the Portland Trail Blazers moving forward.