Portland Trail Blazers: 5 players who need a big final stretch after hiatus

Hassan Whiteside:

Ever since coming over to the Portland Trail Blazers, Whiteside appears to have found a home. He appears to be getting along well with his teammates and playing like he is in a contract year; because he is.

Whiteside is having an incredible year. He is leading the NBA with 3.1 blocks per game, which is 0.7 per game more than his nearest rivals. He has helped lead the Trail Blazers to second in the league with 6.2 per game.

Whiteside is second in the NBA with 14.2 rebounds per game. He only trails Andre Drummond of the Cleveland Cavaliers by 1.0 rebounds per game. This has helped the Trail Blazers to 45.5 rebounds per game, which is good for tenth in the league.

Whiteside is also shooting the ball incredibly well, going at 61.8 percent from the field. This is in direct contrast to the rest of the team. The Trail Blazers are shooting 51.3 percent from the floor which is 23rd in the league.

Whiteside is going to need to produce these numbers for the rest of the season if the Trail Blazers are going to advance into the playoffs. With the return of Jusuf Nurkic, Whiteside is going to have less time on the court.

If his efficiency can improve, these numbers should not drop too much. He is playing for a new contract next season so he will be looking to maximize his value. The Trail Blazers will be looking to ride on the back of this play.