Camping Out (Day 2):Be-Easy? Nope

Heat rookie forward Michael Beasley, the second overall pick in last June's draft, said his body is already feeling the exhausting effects of training camp after just two days.

But his brain might be even more worn out. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spent Sunday hammering home more of the team's playbook and defensive schemes. It's left Beasley's head spinning, but he insists he's keeping up. In his lone season at Kansas State, the game often came easy to Beasley, who was arguably the most dominant player in college basketball last season.

Two days into NBA training camp, Beasley is learning that it takes more than playing the game at a high level to thrive. It requires understanding the game to survive.

"Honestly, remembering everything (is the toughest adjustment)," Beasley said between two practice sessions on Sunday. "It's the plays to situations to defensive side - you've got to know so much. This game is not only physical, but it's mental, too. And that's been the toughest part so far."

To Beasley's credit, he's pushing himself to learn both the small forward and power forward spots. That means putting in double the work and getting down twice as many concepts. For now, his natural position is power forward, where Beasley will likely split time with Udonis Haslem. But he's also taking plenty of notes at small forward, where Shawn Marion (and his expiring contract) will primarily play.

The prospect of a trade (Haslem or Marion) or an injury could force Beasley into action at either spot.

"I kind of want to know every spot," Beasley said. "You never know what could happen."

Beasley certainly has an NBA-ready body and skill set. But this camp, over the next month, will be about developing an NBA-ready brain. It's about getting your mind in sync with your movement.

Right now, that alignment process is taking shape.

"At times, you see Beasley being quiet because he's trying to learn it," Dwyane Wade said. "Once he learns it, he'll put the head and the mouth and everything together. It'll come eventually. Right now, the mouth is not (there). You have to tell him to keep talking. But he's trying to look and learn everything."

Comments

[andy]

I think what coach spoe's want to do is that all the players should be willing to be a defensive minded players whether it is a rookie or a veteran and i think that will work good for this young and veteran team.

[andy]

I think what coach spoe's want to do is that all the players should be willing to be a defensive minded players whether it is a rookie or a veteran and i think that will work good for this young and veteran team.

[andy]

I think what coach spoe's want to do is that all the players should be willing to be a defensive minded players whether it is a rookie or a veteran and i think that will work good for this young and veteran team.

[Daniel]

This is a good sign, make Beasley think so that he could cut down any trash talking