Courtesy: Bleacher Report
I grew up in the DMV area and basketball was a big part of my childhood. I first saw Michael Beasley’s game and basketball talents while he was a young athlete playing for an AAU team called the PG jaguars. Beasley’s name was always floating around gyms, along with Kevin Durant, one of Beasley’s former teammates.
Michael “B-Easy” Beasley was the second overall draft pick of the 2008 NBA draft. He was draft by the Miami Heat and had short careers with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns. Rather than his basketball abilities, Beasley is known for his off-court trouble and marijuana problems. Now that the Phoenix Suns waived him, just three months after signing a three-year deal, the Miami Heat have given Beasley another opportunity by signing him to a non-guarantee, minimum contract.
I believe that by signing Michael Beasley the Miami Heat made a very intelligent and low-risk move. While this move has the potential to help the Miami Heat to win a third straight NBA Championship, this move will definitely help Michael Beasley get his basketball career back on track. Here are some reasons why signing with the Heat will help him rebuild his mess of a career.
OPPORTUNITY TO GROW
The Miami Heat is a first class organization. They have everything in place for Michael Beasley to succeed and grow on and off the court. He is 24 years old and is staring at his last chance in the NBA. Landing in South Beach, provides a more stable opportunity for him to grow on and off the court.
Playing with the likes of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade gives him an opportunity to learn more about the game of basketball. Beasley was traded to the Timberwolves just nine days after “The Decision” made by King James on that famous TV special. The group of guys that Pat Riley has around Beasley now, is completely different from the 2010 roster. In Miami, Beasley has high hopes to grow and mature, both on and off the court. The Heat did the same thing with Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen; do not be shocked if it works just as well with Beasley.
CONDITIONS OF BEING A WINNER
The Miami Heat are winners. To be with them, you have to be a winner. You have to act like a winner. Your life cannot be filled with distractions if you want to keep winning. With the Heat, Beasley will receive the on court and off court attention to avoid distractions and keep his mind on winning. Since his contract is a non-guarantee, he has no choice to slack off and goof around. He will have to stay focused. Winning and being focused on winning is what Beasley needs to stay out of trouble. He will receive the needed support of others he can relate to, whom share the same goal.
YOUTH
Michael Beasley is only 24 years old. He is 6ft. 10in. and 230lbs. He is taller and a littler lighter than LeBron James. I believe Beasley has some talent in him that has yet to be tapped into. The Miami Heat have a way of making players exceed at what they do best, finding their talents and honing in on them. Pat Riley drafted B-Easy back in 2008. Now Beasley has an opportunity to play a different role, with a team that has a long future in front of them. If he stays on track, he could end up being with the Heat for a while.
Beasley is ambidextrous, though he normal shoots with his left. He is healthy and has a great ability to score. Doc Rivers, once told the Star Tribune, “ Offensively, I’ve been a big believer in him, I think he can score. I said it two years ago: I think one day he may lead the league in scoring. He knows how to score the ball. He has a Carmelo ability to short the ball. He’s a match problem every night.” His currently career statistics are 14.1PPG, 5.2RPG, 1.4APG, 0.6STPG and 1.9TOVPG. This is nothing impressive but I blame lack of focus and frustration as a component for not reaching potential.
If Beasley can get back on track and focus on what’s important, he will succeed. He is young; he came into the league as a teenager. Beasley has the talent to be a star in this league but lacks the maturity. I believe he will find it again in Miami and when he does he will be a gigantic threat of the Heat’s bench. Clearing out Mike Miller won’t hurt as bad either, once Beasley finally comes to life.
A COMFORTABLE ROLE
The Heat do a great job functioning as one solid unit. They are almost machine-like on the hardwood, with everything firing on time. They are able to do this because Pat Riley has created a system in Miami, where everyone has a comfortable role. Of course the weight of the team falls on James, Wade and Bosh. Other than that, everyone is a role player with their own specific role. For example, Birdman’s job is to provide intensity, an interior presence and rebound. Ray Allen’s role is to provide bench scoring and be a three-point threat, clearing out room for people to drive. Shane Battier provides maturity to the youngsters and like Allen, is a scoring threat of the bench. Norris Cole’s job is to change the pace of the game when he subs in for Chalmers. What I’m getting at, the Heat know what each player does best and maximize that. No one asks you to do what you can’t. Since Beasley is a scorer, that is exactly what he will be asked to do.
A less pressure filled situation is exactly what Beasley needs to begin to rebuild his career in a positive light and that is exactly what the Miami Heat are giving him. This was a smart move by Pat Riley.
All statistics credited to basketball-reference.com
