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MIAMI -- Affixed to the back of Hassan Whitesides locker in the Miami Heat dressing room is a small photo, one he put there to serve as a constant source of motivation.Its of Ivan Drago -- the villainous boxer character from Rocky IV.I put it there to remind myself of how hard I have to train every day, Whiteside said.The Heat center is a huge fan of the Rocky movies, and right now even his big numbers havent been enough for Miami to win fights. Miami (2-8) has dropped six straight and owned the NBAs third-worst record entering Wednesday, even though Whiteside is averaging 18.2 points and a league-best 15.9 rebounds per game.Its early, but to put Whitesides start in some perspective consider that in the last 35 years only three players -- Kevin Love in 2010-11, Kevin Willis in 1991-92 and Moses Malone in 1982-83 -- averaged at least 18 points and 15 rebounds over an entire season. Thats the current pace for Whiteside, who put up 19 points and a career-high-tying 25 rebounds in Tuesdays 93-90 loss to Atlanta.Whiteside, obviously, is a load, Hawks forward Paul Millsap said.The Heat are Whitesides team now, something no one would have seen coming even a year ago when Miami still had Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to rely upon. So far, hes lived up to the expectations that accompanies signing a $98 million contract like the one he got for the next four years this past summer.His big-man colleagues around the league are taking notice.Sacramento center DeMarcus Cousins, who helped the U.S. win Olympic gold this summer at the Rio Games, was once a teammate of Whitesides. They would play 1-on-1 regularly after practice. Asked how those games went, Cousins acknowledged that Whiteside often won.At one point I thought Hassan was a better player than me, Cousins said. His talent was always there. Everything hes doing now I thought he was capable of doing then. ... Hes proved a lot of people wrong. Hes overcome a lot of adversity and obstacles -- and look at him now. Im extremely happy for him. I know hes been though hell and back to get where he is so he deserves everything thats coming his way.Whiteside is the only player in the NBA this season to grab at least 10 rebounds in each of his teams games. Hes second in blocks per game and his efficiency rating is seventh-best so far in the league behind only James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Chris Paul.Any questions about what a huge salary bump would do to Whitesides hunger on the court have apparently been answered.It really means something to him right now, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Hes feeling the responsibility of inspiring and helping a team win. Its a big responsibility. And you have to put yourself out there as a competitor and show everybody how much it means to you. And when you do that you make yourself vulnerable, especially when you dont get the result that you want. But Hassan is putting himself out there.Hes even starting to show leadership off the court.The Heat locker room was a quiet and somber place Tuesday night, as would be expected after a sixth consecutive loss -- and yet another close one, which has been the case in most of their defeats so far this season.Whiteside didnt offer excuses. All he insisted was that the Heat, who have lost to San Antonio twice as well as Toronto, Charlotte, Oklahoma City, Utah, Chicago and Atlanta this season -- all of them have winning records so far -- still have plenty of time to figure things out.In other words, hes still got a lot of fight left.Thats what Ive been doing all my life, Whiteside said. You are going to have down days. You are going to have down weeks. That doesnt mean you give up or listen to outside people. They are not in here. They are not on the court. We are not listening to that. We are going to keep coming out and going hard. Keep working and keep learning. We are going to get it. Wholesale NFL Jerseys 2020 . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. NFL Jerseys Wholesale .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. https://www.nfljerseys2020.com/ . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. NFL Jerseys 2020 Paypal . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Stitched NFL Jerseys . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. BOSTON -- Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey hesitated a bit before finally admitting that being in a first-quarter melee got him a little more excited.Dungey threw three touchdown passes, Ervin Phillips had a pair of scores and Syracuse beat Boston College 28-20 on Saturday, sending the Eagles to their 12th straight Atlantic Coast Conference loss.Dungey went 32 for 38 for 434 yards. He also ran 17 times for 54 yards for the Orange (4-4, 2-2 ACC).Im always anxious to get the ball back, but I guess a little bit, he said.Phillips could see the excitement in his quarterback.He was definitely fired up, he said. I think he composed himself well though.In the opening quarter, a brief fight broke out on the Syracuse sideline between Dungey and a couple of Boston College players after an interception by BCs William Harris.Dungey threw Harris to the ground and pushed BC linebacker Matt Milano into an equipment container near the stands after he stepped over the QB.Players from both teams -- with a few from BC running across the field -- got involved in the shoving. A Syracuse staff member threw Harris to the ground before the officials and coaches got things under control.I was trying to finish the tackle. I get tackled all the time, Dungey said. Some guys standing over me talking smack. I just tried to get him off of me. One thing led to another.Harris wouldnt comment on the member of Syracuses staff -- wearing an orange hat -- who threw him down.Last week, Dungey became the first player in school history to throw for over 300 yards and rush for over 100 in an upset victory over then-No. 17 Virginia Tech.I told (Dungey) that his job is to get the guy down, not hit him like a middle linebacker, Syracuse coach Dino Babers said. He needs to preserve himself. Did a great job of stopping the touchdown. After that he needs to protect himself.Patrick Towles went 4 of 14 for 45 yards for Boston College (3-4, 0-4) but did run 75 yards for a touchdown. He was taken out of the game early in the fourth quarter and appeared to be favorring his right leg with a hamstring injury.ddddddddddddWe were better today, BC coach Steve Addazio said. The consistency in our throw game was just not there.Back-up Darius Wade drove the Eagles deep into Syracuse territory, but was sacked and then threw incomplete on fourth-and-14 with just under 2 minutes left.The Orange went 86 yards for a score to make it 21-10 after an interception by linebacker Parris Bennett inside their own 5.Receiver Steve Ishmael made an 11-yard TD catch along the side of the end zone, making a leaping grab and getting one foot to touch before he was knocked out of bounds.One play later, Towles broke around left end and went down the sideline for his score on the final play of the third quarter. Mike Knolls second field goal -- a 39-yarder -- cut it to 21-20.Dungeys third TD toss -- a 68-yarder to Amba Etta-Tawo -- made it 28-20.Boston Colleges Myles Willis had an 89-yard kickoff return for a TD.HONOREDAt halftime, Boston College retired former linebacker Luke Kuechlys jersey, hanging it alongside retired No. 22 -- worn by Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie.After leading the nation in tackles for two straight seasons, Kuechly left as the most decorated player in BC history, collecting the Nagurski, Butkus and Lombardi awards.SERIESIt was the 50th meeting. Syracuse leads 31-19.THE TAKEAWAYSYRACUSE: The Orange didnt play smooth offensively, collecting a handful of false start penalties and turning the ball over three times, but they go into a bye week with a pair of key victories.BOSTON COLLEGE: The Eagles cant make key plays when the games close. They were driving for a possible go-ahead score late in the third when wide-open receiver Michael Walker bobbled a pass -- with the ball flying into the air and into the hands of linebacker Bennett.UP NEXTSYRACUSE: Travels to No. 4 Clemson on Nov. 5.BOSTON COLLEGE: Faces North Carolina State on the road next Saturday. ' ' '