Hassan Whiteside on being compared to DeAndre Jordan: ‘He just catches lobs’

If you thought Hassan Whiteside’s game was comparable to DeAndre Jordan’s, think again. That’s the message the 7’1 center had for reporters on Thursday when asked if the two are similar.

“No. He catches lobs,” Whiteside told the Miami Herald. “I shoot jumpers, catch lobs, block shots. I do a lot. He just catches lobs. [Jordan’s] got CP3 as a point guard — a great North Carolina point guard, I’d like to add.”

In this case, the victory goes to Whiteside. Jordan (65 percent) may shoot a better field goal percentage than Miami’s big man (54.2 percent), but it’s Whiteside who has elevated his game past finishing at the rim. Post-ups now account for 30.3 percent of the Heat center’s possessions versus 21.9 percent a year ago. And while he shoots 37.5 percent on the low block, Jordan averages just 1.3 post-up possessions per game.

Whiteside is also shooting 46.9 percent on mid-range jumpers between 15 and 19 feet. Jordan hasn’t attempted a shot from that range this season.

As a high-flyer, Jordan has the edge in pick-and-roll numbers, shooting a league-leading 84.8 percent when rolling off screens. But Whiteside is targeted 1.2 more times per game when rolling off screens and still shoots 63.3 percent on those possessions.

Whiteside later backtracked a bit on his Thursday comments, calling Jordan a “top center” in the league.

Both Jordan and Whiteside are effective shot-blockers, but the edge goes to Miami’s center on offense. And the two are sure to put on a show when the Heat host the Clippers on Friday.