Heat's Whiteside expected to miss at least another week with calf strain

Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside continues to be hampered by a calf strain, which has thus far prevented him from practicing with the team.

After being beset by injuries (like nearly every other Heat player) in what was otherwise a breakout season last year, Whiteside hasn't taken the floor since suffering the injury before the team's first official workout of 2015-16. He expects to be sidelined a little while longer, but hopes to get some reps in before opening night.

"It'll be maybe a week or maybe more," Whiteside said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Michael Wallace. "It really is just day-to-day at this point. I expect to play before the season starts. Hopefully, I can catch a couple of these preseason games before the season starts, to get out there with the team."

"He's making progress," said head coach Erik Spoelstra, "but he's still not ready to practice. Until he's ready to practice, I'll focus on the guys we have out here."

In the meantime, Whiteside has been practicing blind free throws and doing some light conditioning work on a stationary bike, treadmill, and in a pool.

"I never strained anything so I really didn't know what was going on," Whiteside said. "They said it's something you have to really be careful with and not try to rush through it. It's tough (to watch games), but I get on a bike and watch practice and try to stay in shape a little bit. That's the toughest part, just knowing you have to come back in shape. It's going to take a little bit of time, but not too long."