Never Easy With Beasley

Might I suggest three words to those who have clearly drawn lines and are firmly on one side or the other in this Michael Beasley/Udonis Haslem debate.

Pipe down. Please.

Don't get me wrong. Passion this time of year, just two weeks into the NBA season? Perfect. But outright rage in some corners after just five games? Ridiculous.

Here the Heat sits, off to a solid 4-1 start entering Friday's game against the Denver Nuggets. And here many in Heat nation stand, picking apart who sits in crunch time at the end of games. While coach Erik Spoelstra's rotation decisions cost him in Tuesday's loss to Phoenix, there was no price to be paid Wednesday in Washington.

Beasley found himself sitting and watching yet again down the stretch in Wednesday's 93-89 road victory against the Wizards, as a unit of Dwyane Wade, Quentin Richardson, Mario Chalmers, Haslem and Jermaine O'Neal pushed to the finish.

Beasley played only 2 minutes, 38 seconds in the fourth quarter and 24 minutes the entire game. Haslem, along with Wade and Richardson, went the entire 12-minute stretch in the fourth. While it was tough to comprehend during the game why Beasley was not allowed to have a bigger role in the finish (four fouls don't really come into play here), it's just as difficult to argue who should have been taken out to insert Beasley.

It's even harder to argue with the results.

Haslem had seven points and four rebounds in the final period. He opened the quarter with a layup to put the Heat ahead and closed the quarter with a pair of free throws that put it out of reach.

Richardson made a pair of threes in the quarter at a time when the Wizards were overloading on Wade. And the Heat needed every second of PT Wade could muster in the second half. So where should Beasley have fit in? There is an argument that Wade could have moved to the point, Q-Rich to shooting guard, with Beasley at small forward and Haslem and O'Neal down low. That's putting the Heat's best five on the court, and ultimately should be the way things play out as the season progresses if Mario Chalmers remains inconsistent at the point.

Or, Miami could have moved Haslem over to center, with Beasley at power forward, Richardson at small forward and Wade and Chalmers in the backcourt. But Haslem and Richardson should have been - and were - left on the court for the finish. The bottom line is that the Heat got it done regardless. There's something to be said for playing to win the game.

For the record, I've said all along that I'm for having Haslem in the starting lineup. I'm also for having Beasley there. That's where the disagreements come into play. I believe Beasley could be a very good power forward in this league, giving his crafty ability around the basket and quickness advantage against many at the position. But I think he could be a great small forward if he truly commits to it, given his shooting, handling, and potential play-making ability. Can he defend either position consistently and adequately right now? No. But can he create mismatches at both spots if featured? No doubt.

Yeah, we've heard all about how Beasley needs to be put in crucial situations so he can develop. He has, and he will. But Beasley also has to do his part to stay on the court. This isn't Oklahoma City or Memphis or Sacramento, where young stars are getting 40 minutes a night no matter what. With the Heat, the first three quarters are about development for Beasley. The fourth is for execution. He has to earn that trust from teammates and coaches down the stretch. He didn't necessarily do anything to deserve to be benched most of the fourth quarter. But he also didn't do much - compared with Richardson and Haslem - to warrant extended action down the stretch. That won't be the case many nights.

While Beasley may have overtaken Haslem as the starter at power forward, Haslem has assumed the role of finisher at the position. That's simply the black-and-white of a situation where so much gray area exists.

I've said it before. This is as much about Beasley vs. Richardson as it is Beasley vs. Haslem for those who look at things that way. Richardson is starting at the three because Beasley can't take on the tougher perimeter defensive assignments to relieve Wade. Beasley is starting at the four because Wade needs more scoring help to open the games. Haslem is coming off the bench because Beasley can't play the three to the degree he can be trusted to start there. So the future is now the present at the four. Add up?

But when the game is at stake, the best five should be on the court. Or, at least, the best five at that time of the game. How coach Erik Spoelstra handles this dynamic situation remains a work in progress. Certainly, he's left himself open for rotation criticism before.

Clearly, this ordeal is overshadowing the Heat's season among many - and will likely continue to do so until either Beasley or Haslem is traded or, in Haslem's case, bolts in free agency next summer. But that doesn't have to be the case. They should be able to co-exist.

But let the record show. Miami is 4-1. The system, for now, is working.

Again, for now. 

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

Comments

[jrhana]

Mr. Michael Wallace, I wish to thank you for your excellent commentary.

You are obviously working very hard and putting your heart and soul into explaining the Miami Heat for us.

As you said, Beasley and Haslem "should be able to co-exist." But one thing is for sure, the play of Haslem is showing us why he deserves to continue his career here. He is a warrior.

[liam]

Haslem sucks as a starter or finisher at pf, he's a solid bakcup, tony battie or anderson varejao style

Beasley is a David West or Chris Bosh type of allstar level PF that could really help Wade alot starting and finishing games, and our defense is just as good with beasley at pf as its been with haslem at pf

QRich is the best SF ont he team, neither Haslem or Beasley is a SF (at all, period). Chalmers or Arroyo will close at PG automatically, maybe cook every once in a while

the game we won against chicago that haslem went off and beasley sucked, haslem shoulda closed that game. every other one haslem shouldve played about 20 minutes and beasley shouldve got 35 and been the starter and finisher

we have our own mo williams that could help us jump from 44 to 60 wins like the cavs did upon adding theirs...... we just wont play him, we'd rather go with "wild thing haslem", and mediocrity

talent wins, beasley has it, haslem doesnt

[pugtv]

Fire Spo. There is no other NBA team that will hire him as head coach.

[JC]

You need soul on a team and UD has it. I have no doubt MB will grow and mature. UD knows how to finish and be tough. There is nothing wrong with splitting time.

We start Chalmers because of toughness and he never questions himself even if making mistakes. You need a pg with a short memory.

J O'Neal has come back in shape and ready to play..QR lost weight and is playing defense.

D. Wade thank god has Lebron and Kobe to compete with in terms of game.

What is there to complain about?

Child, please.

[Cesar]

The question is whether Chalmers and Q are interchangeable in the 4th quarter. If Q can guard the other guard and reasonably bring the ball down, he should be moved to guard in the 4th. His shooting and savy demand it

[bill]

Im done with the team too, no more buying tickets or watching games until Beasley starts and gets 34 minutes a game exclusively at power forward, and finishes games

Haslem is being catered to and its coming at the expense of putting our best players on the court and developing the PF version of pippen to wade's jordan

pathetic indeed. phuck it, i give up

[bill]

YOU WILL ALL BE COMPLAINING when Wade drops 40 thru the first 3 quarters against a smart team we face and then they take the ball out of his hands in the 4th quarter while he's out there with:

Oneal
Haslem
Richardson
Chalmers(or arroyo or cook, whoevers having the best game of the 3)

and the 2nd defender comes off of haslem and flying over to wade when he crosses the halfcourt line, doubling him at midcourt to take the ball out of his hands, and we cant score because he passes it to haslem who is offensively retarded and has no offensive talent, so we crash and burn the entire fourth quarter

thats what happened last year, what is different now? Qrich instead of Moon? Thatss a big upgrade offensively but is QRich really gonna kill one on one coverage that bad? Is chalmers gonna kill it? What about jermaine?

Haslem gonna direct that 4 on 3? You cant double off of michael beasley, and i know that chalmers or qrich can direct a 4 on 3 and jermaine can hit an open layup inside

its gonna happen, and soon, and all those guys are gonna be out of rhythym because Wade is gonna dominate the first 3 quarters because the offensive talent aroudn him isnt very good, especially on an offnight for oneal

Beasley is the other guy that could be our version of Mo Williams and score 20ppg and kepe the opponent honest and get us to that next level THIS YEAR

but whatever

[bill]

we already lost one game because we couldnt score in the fourth quarter, which was due to haslem being on the court instead of our zone-dominator mr beasley

[daniel]

"But let the record show. Miami is 4-1. The system, for now, is working."

Wade saving the day is a system now?

[tradeBeasley]

Yeah and how long do you expect this system to work.

Wade can't score 40 every game for the next 77 games. With the current system our record will be 40-42 at the end of the season and possibly missing the playoffs or getting our a$$es handed out to us in the first round.

We tried this abomination last season. We are repeating the same mistakes. Shouldn't our coach have grown by now?

Beasley and Haslem can't co-exist when Haslem, the backup, is getting minutes as if he's the starter.

Trade Beasley to another team, let Haslem start and get Shavlick Randolph to back him up.

We have no use for Beasley and Spo has no intentions whatsoever of using the kid.

[tradeBeasley]

This isn't about Beasley vs Richardson. Beasely at PF BEASTS Haslem in every statistically recordable field, save charges. Richardson BEASTS Beasley at SF.

It isn't even close.

Our best PF is Beasley.
Our best SF is Richardson.

Why they aren't on the floor for most of the game is no mystery. Spo doesn't want it.

Trade Beasley!

[SATANLOVES]

FIRE SPO! He is the worst coach in the NBA. Horrible substitutions, token starters, terrible offensive sets and no clear rotation. The Heat have done a terrible job at handling Beasley. Why did they pick him if they won't play him? What a joke. Riley, speak the truth to the Heat fans, what the hell is the plan with Beaz?

[Ed E Jones]

"Our best PF is Beasley.
Our best SF is Richardson.

Why they aren't on the floor for most of the game is no mystery. Spo doesn't want it."

Agreed. Those are my thoughts exactly. Haslem isn't our best center pf or sf, why is he crowned already. I remember those 5 games haslem was out, Beasley played excellent because he knew he would be in the game.

"Haslem had seven points and four rebounds in the final period. He opened the quarter with a layup to put the Heat ahead and closed the quarter with a pair of free throws that put it out of reach"

Wrong Haslem missed one of two free throws while the game was still in the balance. Why would I mention such a minute detail...well because if it was beasley that did it everyone would remember. Haslem left his man (Haywood) open for a wide open dunk in the 4th quarter, he also came on a double that left another man open for a layup, but because we believe in our mind that Haslem is a better defender we do not remember that part of the game. If Beasley did that he would of been yanked and Wade would of been motioning the bench to get haslem in the game. BEASLEY"s mistakes are amplified on this team for whatever reason. These are observations of mine that I've noticed from watching the games so far don't be biased when you read them, just take them for what they are and see if you observe them too.

1) Haslem has plays run for him when he's in the game with Wade.

2) Wade's body language and play improve upon Haslem's insertion into the lineup.

3) Wade stops and stares (glares), puts his head down, or turns and looks at the bench when Beasley "screws up"

4) Beasley feels more pressure to perform in the second half because he knows that if he doesn't, he won't be in the game at the end. Could this stress and pressure affect his play? This I'm not sure about but I know the psyche has to bruised knowing that if you miss an assignment you will be taken out. That affects a person's mental state in a basketball game and its the exact reason Riley did not want to bring in competition for Mario Chalmers. Bring in a real backup PG and see how well Mario Chalmers plays when he knows that screwing up once will get him yanked. Sorry Mike I usually agree with you but you are way off in your assessment this time. I know you like Haslem the person but you don't get a pass this time.

Rant Over who agrees!

[pugtv]

FIRE SPO!!!!

[bball fan]

Trade Beasley! Wade and Spoe don't trust him. Let us basketball fans enjoy his talent even if it is on another team.

[roy s. sears]

Spolestra is no fool. If he want's to win. He have to play Haslem in 4th quarters.

[choochoo]

boy... really sounds like Beasley's agent or best buddy commenting on here... that's the only reasonable explanation for wanting to trade him away

[heatstroked]

Meanwhile.

Denver rolls into town.

Pinball Friday btw Melo and DWade? Sure, why not.

But we'll also be watching Ty Lawson who, absent Griffin, is leading his rookie class in win-shares and PER-to-Usg%. [ http://bit.ly/1HTIM3 ]

At this rate, former Heat guard Anthony Carter will soon be out of a job.

Tonite's (Fri) Heat guards -- beware.

[cp12]

The team seems to be playing better to start the games and the shift to the vets provides more grit but less scoring...

It is what it is.

But it shows lack of faith in the starter.

Wallace, your an ass for telling fans to pipe down when it is obvious what the situation is.

Its never been about Haslem vs Beasley.

We all want the same thing here, which is to see the best Miami Heat team compete.

[Pierre]

Michael's a more professional commentator than Ira, hands down

[Pierre]

I watched the bulls game and got some thoughts.

I like Beast a lot and believe he'll be an important piece to this franchise. But at times he looked like he was day dreaming on the court and some of his decisions were head scratching.

Haslem is limited talent-wise, but he plays smarter than Beast up to this moment. Hopefully Beast'll learn to play smarter.

[dmt]

I hope the Heat loses to Denver, but Beasley gets 48 minutes!!!

Go Beasley!

Heck, 49 minutes!

I wish we had *five* Beasleys, one at every position. Even if we lost every game! As long as each Beasley got 48 minutes!

[Greg Gembe]

Damn, all this love for Beas and no one mentioned his draft number. Could it be that after 1 1/2 years, we finally realize that number doesn't mean diddly-pooh (apologies to Jim Mora and Ned Flanders).

Focus and attention to detail on the court, or basically, professionalism. Haslem has it, supercoolbeas doesn't. I'll bet Haslem averages 14 ppg before 'god's son' learns how to be a professional.

Not too many teams that have realistic playoff hopes are 'experimenting' or 'giving the young kids a chance to grow on the court'. You get to the NBA, you are suppossed to be a freakin' man. You learn in practice, and once you prove it there, you take it to the games.

Look at the last four teams to win the NBA championship. Miami, San Antonio, Boston, LA -- all were comprised of veteran players, NOT THE FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH or ESPN's NEXT!

People, take off the rose colored glasses!

Beasley is just not that driven to be a complete playa! He wants the adulation of individual scoring (obvious by how quick he chucks up shots) without doing the gut-check work of playing defense. And some of you are fooled into believing that trumps Haslem's contributions on the court? Wow, you are entitled to your opinion, but Riles, Spo, Wade, and Haslem (4 champions) see differently.

You know how they call the group that challenges Obama's birthplace as "birthers", I think we ought to call these supercoolbeas fans..."drafters". If that doesn't work, we can call them "starters". I mean, if it comes to the end of a close game and we put Anthony in the game for JO, are people going to go beserk because JO is a starter and should be finishing as well, even though we know Anthony is a MUCH BETTER DEFENSIVE PLAYER than JO.

Open any eyes? Still got those glasses on?

[rockstarjc]

this could be better to our team... we need to TRUST our team! our coach! our players! as i see the problem on our team is that they DONT TRUST EACH OTHER!!! BEING INCONSISTENT!!! BEASLEY & HASLEM are not the problem... they both help to win the team... only thing that BEASLEY would do is that HE needs to show an "A-GAME" being consistent, good defense avoiding getting into foul trouble to earn TRUST of the coaching staff & may allow HIM to close-out games together with WADE-PG, HASLEM-PF, JO-CENTER, BEASLEY-SF, & Q-RICH OR D.WRIGHT @ SG... this could be better than CHALMERS on the floor closing the game... we need BEASLEY to have playing time to earn his confidence!!!

thougths???

Posted by: rockstarjc | November 06, 2009 at 07:54 AM

this could be a great trade & may help our team in different ways... we need to trade: JAMES JONES, QUINN, DIAWARA + 2nd round pick 2010 to; (portland) *OUTLAW & *BAYLESS...

it's fair a trade for both teams...

and:

Q-RICH & CHALMERS to:

(bobcats) ^G.WALLACE...

THIS COULD BE FAIR ENOUGH FOR BOBCATS...

could it be possible???

thougths???

line-up:

sg WADE(pg) / COOK
pg ARROYO / *BAYLESS
sf ^G"FORCE"WALLACE / *OUTLAW / D.WRIGHT
pf BEASLEY(sf) / HASLEM / RANDOLPH,S.
c JO / ANTHONY,J. / MAGLOIRE

we got a great depth rather than what we had
now...

thougths???

[NoRush]

Some idiot above this post said that Spo is no fool... Of all the NBA coaches Spo is the BIGGEST FOOL. Trade Beasely and watch him perform brilliantly. Why? because he was allowed to develop without the fear of being pulled because of a jackass coach... like Spo.
I thought Riley was intelligent... but letting some stupid jerk run the team has me re-evaluating Rileys intelligence. Wise up Riles, you made a mistake about Spo, pull him.

[NoRush]

The Heat team has a lot of good players and is doing well in spite of the stupid rotation by Spo. If these players had a decent coach they would perform outstandingly. They could be the surprise of the 2009 NBA if they were in the hands of a capable leader.

[heatstroked]

Posted by: Greg Gembe | November 06, 2009 at 09:22 AM

Except.

Fans, i.e. “fanatics”, aren't interested in the truth. Fans crave validation. Witness “fans” who'd rather Miami lose than win with Beasley on the bench.

Predictable and pathetic.

But no less predictable or pathetic than media divas like Wallace and Winderman who helped create Frankenbeas in the first place. And now, find themselves hammered for trying to keep things real despite the Beastopia THEY essentially created.

Wallace: “Please pipe down.”

HA. Wallace, Barry Jackson, Greg Cote, Ira Winderman, Dave Hyde, Ethan Skolnick are just a FEW of the media nannies who excused everything Beasley had or hadn't done before he was drafted. THEY were (and remain) absolutely sure Beasley was a young, carefree, superstar no-brainer, unequivocally insisting anyone BUT Beasley would be franchise suicide.

Even now, they're AC/DC. Yes, they want Beas to become elite ASAP– to validate THEIR predraft Beasleyphilia. No, most realize Beas is still a work-in-progress who may not have the right stuff between his ears to shine sooner than, if ever, later.

That's why you have the daily spectacle of laughable wishy-washies from media fat guys who've never played the game – especially Winderman.

At 12:01 you can find Winderman (“good” Ira) placating his pack of Beavers & Beagles by ripping (or at least questioning) Spo for the not-Winderman-approved allocation of Beasley minutes.

At 12:02 “Bad” Ira is recounting the ways/means where Beas came up short in the wake of a loss, poor performance, critical miscue as examples of improvement Beas must realize to earn the 48-min trust of teammates AND coaches.

I still think Beas has the tools to become “great.” But he'll only be great when he realizes how far from great he really is RIGHT now – and – embrace the 24/7/365 grind great players endure to BECOME great -- and --- tunes out all the harmful noise from nattering nabobs who insist Beas of Arc would be greatness manifest were it not for the Sporquemada/Torquespoelstra who shackles,imprisons and abuses Him.

"Pipe down?"

Why don't YOU, the media, simply swallow what YOU created?

[Daniel Isaacs]

I can't understand why Miami would waste their 2nd pick on a player you do not develop. In that case they should have picked the 2nd best PG in the class...not pick a PF which won't play because Wade likes Haslem more...

So what's going to happen when Wade goes down?
is Jermaine "I am almost retired" O'Neal going to do it? Haslem's 10 pts per game won't cut it, chalmers? pfff ....
THEN YOU WILL EXPECT BEASLEY TO DO EVERYTHING..

I can't believe how this organization is wasting this talent

[pugtv]

We need to develop our key guys for 2010 now!

We should also get rid of our team's dead weight. FIRE SPO NOW!!!

[Greg Gembe]

Well said, Heatstroked

[pugtv]

Michael Wallace is a heck of a lot better than Ira. Ira blows.

[Greg Gembe]

"I can't understand why Miami would waste their 2nd pick on a player you do not develop."

Why do you think that Beas is not getting a chance to develop. I'll bet all he has to do is ask and a gym will be opened for him.

You can't seriously think that the coaching staff (guys that live basketball) would let their team OR their jobs be comprimised because they didn't WANT to develop the talent around them. Of course they want the players to succeed. That benefits the players, the team, the coaching staff, and the organization.

Beas is given every opportunity to prove himself. Face it people, he's not got the drive to get to elite status. It's probably from high school coaches (and he had a few) and AAU coaches that continued to blow smoke up his skirt, overstating his abilities, for their own selfish goals.

Hold the boy accountable. It is not the coaching staff that isn't putting in the effort, it is supercoolbeas. He must be reading these same blogs, and (ridiculously) believing some of it.

[TRADE UDONIS]

Mike Wallace does not make true basketball sense:
Beasley is the only player besides Wade that can generate his OWN offense.
Q Rich: Mostly 3 point shooter
Chalmers: Mostly NOTHING
Haslem: Mostly Hustle, some offense.
J.O.: Mostly BAD knees.
And, when playing GOOD teams the Defense will swarm Wade and leave the Heat offense lost.
That is what Atlanta did in the playoffs.
Mike Wallace watch a replay of the defense Atlanta put on Miami during their Game 7 blowout.
Then spo had to put Beasley in the game during the second half has a starter of game 7 because the offense is lost.
Better to get the CHEMISTRY right NOW!
not LATER!

[black the trucker]

wow, what did i miss.. well, i put my gm hat on for a minute and came up with some moves, here check them out... beasley, cook, jones, quinn to the wizards for butler, blatche, foye... then wright, 1st round pick to golden state for maggette... then 1st round pick and cash for camby.. then cash and 2nd round pick to the bucks for kurt thomas... now lets get a title run started and forget about all this bull$hit..

[Ice Cube (ex-balla)]

Greg Gambe is an idiot. Of course Haslem does those things better, he is a veteran. Stop making this about the fans you moron. And dont make this about the idiot Ira Winderman, because even he that has no basketball knowledge can easily see what anyone that watches the games and knmows basketball is seeing. Haslem is a good player, a damn good player. But Beasley needs more than what he is getting there is no doubt. Idiot.

[pugtv]

This is not about Haslem. This is about Spo. Spo is dead weight on this team. Get rid of him and everything will fix itself.

[Nick]

We are 5 and 1! the heat r looking great and balanced. No doubt they have more trust in Haslem, but Beasley is only 20! They are taking a careful approach and are trying to mold him into a complete player. I would like to see him out there a little more, but we are winning and that is what is effective and important. Beasley is still really young and hasn't even tapped into all of his potential. Give Spo some leeway, he is coaching a winning team. Beasley can be goofy and the heat want to make him a ferocious competitor and that comes with age and maturity. Beasley is going to develope nicely this year and come 2010 when the Heat is in dynasty mode, he's going to break out huge.

[Magic_Marc]

There is no conspiracy to keep Beasley off the floor by Spo. Remember he was the coach who drafted him. Nothing would make him look like a genius quicker than starting his draft pick and having him shine.

Beasley just isn't developed enough yet. He finally earned his way into the starting lineup and now he'll have to earn his spot in the 4th qtr crunch. Does anybody think that Riles had D Wade on the floor as a rookie just so that he could develop? Hell no he was on the floor because he proved that he deserved to be there.

Straight up, Beasley hasn't earned it. And if his ego can't handle the trial of fair competition then he never had the heart to be elite despite having the ability.

He needs to stop all that damn smiling and put his man face on.

[Heat2010]

I love Michael Beasley. His upside is enormous. But he is not yet ready. He is great in spurts, but then becomes disinterested and inconsistent. He is an asset to this team. We need his scoring. But let's speak the truth, as limited as we may "think" haslem is, he is NOT! He is the modern day Charles Oakley. Probably the best PF defender in the East. Incredible that he can guard 3's and 4's. A beast on the boards. A true leader who always in proper position. An enforcer. Opponents HATE playing against him. Offensively, he does not have the skills of MB. But, he can stick the 17' J just as consistently as MB. And coming off the bench, we are starting to see him take the ball to the hoop and finish. Fella's UD will be a Miami Heat player until he retires. You don't let go of a UD, unless offered the world. I know it's easy to become enamored by our 2nd pick MB. He'll be great for us someday. But, he still needs some seasoning. Let's let him growinto the role. Spoelstra knows his team and he knows MB. That's exactly what he's doing. I think he has the pulse of the team a bit better than all of us. We are 5-1 and looking good. All is well. Let's enjoy for now and Go Heat!

[winz305]

I agree with you "Heat2010",if Beasley can be more consistent with playing defense then I believe that he would be finishing the games he starts, but Haslem is just a warrior on the court, he has heart and thats why he is finishing games. Give Beasley time and he should be fine.

[redbaby]

Come on Mike you know Beas is being given the shaft by the Heat coaching staff. His minutes will increase when they go 500 over the next 10 games. Do you think that Cavs, Lakers or the Thunder worried about "defensive lapses" with LeBron, Kobe or Durant. Or the Clippers will worry about any lapses that Griffin may have? Absolutely not. Supremely talented athletes like Beasley don't need all those stupid play books to be great on the court. They know instinctively and creatively what to do when faced with opposition. Spo's trying to take a card out of Riley's motivational book and it ain't workin because he's not Riley and this is 2009 and not 1988. Get real and play Beasley the WHOLE game.