NBA: Riley criticizes Whiteside: “He wasn’t ready in the playoffs”

Miami Heat president Pat Riley has criticized Hassan Whiteside for his performance in the playoffs. The former star coach now wants to smooth the waves in a conversation with the center and coach Erik Spoelstra.

“He just wasn’t ready when the playoffs started,” Riley told ESPN about Whiteside. “He wasn’t in any physical condition. Also mentally he was not at the height for a fight in the playoffs. We’re gonna have to talk about that.”

Whiteside then played a weak series against the Philadelphia 76ers and played on average only 15.4 minutes in which he played 5.2 points and 6 rebounds.

Riley does not want to give up the center, which will still collect 52.4 million in the next two years. “There must be intervention and I will,” announced Riley Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel.

Whiteside complained after his retirement that he didn’t get a real chance and attacked head coach Erik Spoelstra. “The two will have to resolve their differences,” Riley demanded. “Hassan also has to ask himself how he can change his game, that he can be effective for Spo and our team.”

Things went a little better for the center during the regular season. Over the season Whiteside scored 14 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.