NBA Playoffs 2018: 5 keys to Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat matchup

4. Will Whiteside stay engaged?

Tension had been building between Hassan Whiteside and the Heat throughout the season, and it finally boiled over following a 110-109 overtime loss to the Brooklyn Nets on March 31. After Whiteside remained parked on the bench during the fourth quarter and overtime that night, he erupted while speaking with reporters after the game.

“Man, it’s annoying. Why we matching up?,” Whiteside said. “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 bulls–t. It’s really bulls–t, man. There’s a lot of teams that could use a center.”

It wasn’t difficult to foresee such a meltdown. In early November, head coach Erik Spoelstra pulled him from a game against the Golden State Warriors only a minute into the second half. Over the next few months, Whiteside continued to make not-so-veiled comments alluding to his frustration with Spoelstra’s minutes distribution, while Spo and Whiteside’s teammates returned fire by discussing his effort level (or lack thereof).

“When he asserts himself and is locked in and aggressive the way he is, especially on the defensive end, we’re a totally different team,” Heat reserve swingman Wayne Ellington told reporters in mid-January following a 106-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. “When he plays to his capability, we’re a different team.”

Considering his ongoing feud with Embiid, Whiteside should have no trouble getting himself extra fired up for this matchup against the Sixers. It’s less certain whether he’ll remain locked in if Spoelstra prioritizes minutes for Kelly Olynyk or Bam Adebayo to counter Philadelphia’s stretch-big lineups whenever Embiid isn’t on the floor, though.

Next: 3. Can the Sixers rein in their turnovers?