Whiteside Talks, Clippers Win 102-98
- Updated: December 16, 2016
The Clippers versus Heat game got started a bit earlier than the scheduled 5 PM tip-off time. As starting Heat Center Hassan Whiteside apparently found it necessary to bash his opponent prior to the contest Friday night.
Hassan Whiteside isn’t feeling those DeAndre Jordan comparisons.
Which center would you rather have on your team? https://t.co/ObT7w5y6uu pic.twitter.com/oUBvRdhhFI
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 16, 2016
But it wasn’t the Center showdown that got things rolling for either teams. It was Blake Griffin that started off scorching in this one dropping 10 points in the first quarter. Griffin slowed slightly in the scoring department finishing the night with 20 but kept his well-balanced approach intact with 4 assists and 8 rebounds.
Even though he didn’t have one of his stellar stat-lines Chris Paul again did some things that just make opponents shake their heads. In this case it was Whiteside left standing still while Paul danced for a bucket.
Watch Chris Paul freeze Whiteside for a split second here pic.twitter.com/ltwYVrsPyg
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) December 17, 2016
Paul closed out the night with 17 points, and 6 assists.
Now lets get to the Center showdown. For a Center that by his own words is a significantly more well-rounded player than his opposite, Whiteside certainly didn’t show it Friday. Each big man had some blocks in this one, but it was Jordan who won this battle 3 to 1. The rest of their stats were as close to dead even as it gets. Jordan would have 12 points and 19 rebounds while Whiteside finished with 11 points and 17 rebounds.
Not to mention it was Jordan and his Clippers that got the ultimate result with the 102 – 98 victory.
Not really seeing how Whiteside is the superior Center but hey Hassan whatever you got to say to get that 2K rating up right?
A solid win at the American Airlines Center for Los Angeles moving the winning streak to 4 with just one more game left on this road trip against Washington Sunday.
Thanks for reading along Clipper Nation! Here’s to the Clippers having the best Center in the NBA.