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NBA: 20 Players Turning Their Seasons Around

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 3, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) drives to the basket past Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) drives to the basket past Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) dunks the ball as Chicago Bulls forward Cristiano Felicio (6) looks on during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 129-111. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Hassan Whiteside

Not long ago, the most popular Hassan Whiteside stat was not that he was leading the league with 3.9 blocks per game, but that the Miami Heat‘s defense is actually better with him off the court — even if that stat is by few mere points and doesn’t take into account how much better Miami’s defense is with Justise Winslow and some of the team’s bench players on the floor.

In any case, Whiteside’s recent scoring, rebounding and shot-block barrage — and subsequent return to the starting lineup — should have people talking more about his value as an unrestricted free agent this summer and less about that tired statistic.

His sudden increase in quality play is bad news for the Heat, who will be hard-pressed to re-sign him without his Bird Rights. But any questions about their desire to do so have probably been removed by his newfound connection with Goran Dragic in the pick-and-roll, not to mention the eye-popping 20.0 points, 15.7 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game on 61.8 percent shooting he’s posted since the trade deadline.

Next: No. 6