Embiid on Whiteside’s struggles: “I don’t care about him”

By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly editor 

By now, everyone is aware of the kind of reputation Heat center Hassan Whiteside has around the City of Philadelphia, specifically the Sixers and star center Joel Embiid.

Hint: It's not a good one.

Both Embiid and Whiteside have been at each other's throats all season long, usually stemming from Embiid's performance against Whiteside in games, limiting the Heat big man from doing pretty much anything productive over the course of an entire game.

However, Whiteside is being paid quite a pretty penny to suit up night in and night out, but sometimes it seems like it might just behoove him to keep his uniform in a locker and stay at home.

Before the 2016-17 season, Whiteside signed a hefty four year, $98 million deal to keep him in Miami. Prior to signing that deal, in 2015-16, Whiteside was an All-NBA talent, leading the league in blocks per game at 3.7.

Since signing the deal, Whiteside's production has been practically invisible and when the Heat need him most to perform, in the playoffs, he hasn't been there to contribute.

He's absolutely struggled, and the Heat have continuously needed someone to step up when Whiteside is struggling in game situations.

As a member of the starting lineup at center in the Heat's three games against the Sixers thus far, Whiteside played a maximum of 15 minutes in Game 2. He scored two points in Game 1, four in Game 2, and five in Game 3.

The Heat look like they're trying to give Whiteside the benefit of the doubt in each game he plays, but nothing has shaped up so far. Erik Spoelstra has had to resort to many other options in place of their high-paid center.

Having to guard Joel Embiid definitely hasn't helped matters.

Asked by reporters on Friday afternoon about Whiteside's struggles for the Heat these playoffs, Embiid offered a pretty short, but sweet response.

“I don’t care about him.”

Whiteside had even more of a short response to the media asking how he is going to snap out of his struggles.

“I'm trying to figure that out right now," Whiteside said Thursday.