Playing Riley

So you're probably watching the NCAA Tournament with a scout's eye this year, wondering who would be the best fit for Miami, which will pick anywhere between one and four.
Here's what I've seen so far...

Michael Beasley: He's an amazing scorer. And everyone who has seen him up close says he's a legit 6-9. What worries me, though, is his athleticism. Either he holds back or he's just not that athletic. And if that's the case, is he really a power forward in the league or a small forward? If he's a power forward who's not that athletic, then he's more like Antoine Walker than I would like. If he's a small forward, then he's more of a Carmelo Anthony, which I'm totally fine with.

Derrick Rose: The best part about watching him play is that he's so willing to give up the ball and let his talented teammates do the scoring until he's absolutely needed. And when he does call his own number, he's virtually unstoppable in a one-on-one situation. In the league, he becomes that much more unstoppable because the defensive rules are so much more strict, and he'll have more space to work with because of the more distant three-point line, and the floor is generally more spread in the NBA. The more I see him, the more I feel like he is the Heat's best option regardless of where they pick.

D.J. Augustin, Jerryd Bayless: They're kind of similar in that they are scoring point guards, with Augustin being slightly more of a pure point guard. Bayless continued to strengthen that Chauncey Billups comparison with his play in the postseason, while Augustin worries me a little bit because of his size (6-0). If I were picking either of them at three or four, I'd stick with Bayless.

Brook Lopez: I'm starting to change my opinion on him. I thought he would be a stiff as of a month ago, but the more I watch him, the more I feel like his size and fundamentals make him a poor man's Tim Duncan. Not that poor, either. He doesn't have all of Tim's shots in the post, and his shooting percentage on the season is a little lower than it should be for a guy his size (47 percent). But I still see more potential there than I used to see. If the Heat gets hosed and stuck with the No. 4 pick, this guy will be in the conversation.

O.J. Mayo: I was impressed that he didn't try to take over the game against Kansas State and took what came to him. But at the same time, I kind of wish he had the ball-handling ability and quickness to take over the game. What I like about him is he seems to be from the Kobe Bryant school of studying and perfecting the game. He could be one of those guys that works on his game so much that he improves every year. Already his shot has gotten so much better. If he works on his ball-handling, he might be able to play part-time point guard in the league, which he might have to anyway at 6-4.

Erick Gordon: Needs to stay in school. Got worse as the season progressed.

DeAndre Jordan: Doesn't have the type of impact on a game you would expect for a guy with his size and athleticism. Makes you wonder if he has enough skill.

Kevin Love: Ha! Just kidding.

Comments

[jon]

my pick is rose over beasley based on this, which player will be the best at their position on a nightly basis? imo, beasley will be slightly better some nights and equal to his competition on others. rose on the other hand will be the best point guard in the league, due to his size and atheticism. Imagine Dwade not having to worry about being a playmaker but just scoring, 30 ppg sounds reasonable.

[gurra]

we need a point guard so i would go whit rose. im relly intrested of seeing rose and wade at the backcourt

[Eric]

I believe Beasley is too small to be great power forward in the pros...(6-9 same as Haslem) Beasley's game looks more like Marion's. Can knock down outside shoots and create around the hoop. If Marion decides to opt. out of his contract then I would draft Beasley. Other wise Derrick Rose all the way!

[David]

I think the pick is definitely Beasley if we get the 1st overall pick.

With Wade on this team, it's just not as important to have a great PG. Wade functions as the point guard in the 4th quarter of our games many times.

I believe it's always better to have a great big man and a great perimeter player rather than two great perimeter players. Great inside / outside combinations rule this league.

Wade and Beasley could be a great SG / PF tandem for years.

[renaldo]

Beasley considers himself a s/f . He has problems with bigger p/f example: KS vs Wisc in the tourney. If the Heat aren't plannig on keeping Marion than Beasley is a better pick. But regardless if they keep him are not, Pat has been look for a premier p/g (Maurice Williams, Mike Bibby, etc.) to play alongside Wade . Lets be honest, finding a superstar p/g is harder than finding a superstar p/f. Rose is the MAN!