Forget, for a second, about the fame and fortune that come with being the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.
Dismiss, for a moment, the care-free nature and playful demeanor that define him.
Put aside, if you will, the fact that the future of the franchise rests partly on his 19-year-old shoulders.
The simple reality is this: It just ain't easy being Beasley. 
That's the message Heat rookie forward Michael Beasley was trying to get across after Friday's practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. And it's a humbling process for a man-child who owned the college basketball world last season as the most productive player in the nation.
But things have since changed drastically for Beasley.
Never before has Beasley been expected to play - I mean really play - defense. Never before has he grasped the proper technique required to draw an offensive foul. And, as a result, never before has he had the best seat in the house - while in uniform - during crunch time in basketball games.
But here Beasley stands. Or sits, depending on the view. Beasley has seen his playing time dip to near Mark Blount levels the past two games. Early foul trouble and late defensive lapses were the cause.
After meeting with Beasley before Friday's practice, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the rookie forward responded with one of his better workouts and seems more focused, that he wants to do better.
"He's not out of the rotation," Spoelstra deadpanned.
Beasley has a diverse arsenal of offensive moves. But he's defensively deficient. And he knows it. He's also accountable and humble, at least publicly. And he showed that side of himself Friday.
"It's hard, man, especially with me being so young and new to the league," Beasley said. "I've already played 12 games. Last year, in college, (the) 12th game came in January. You can have all of the physical attributes. But if you don't have it up there (pointing to his head), it doesn't really mean anything."
Of course, Beasley was being a bit too hard on himself. And Spoelstra, who demands accountability, appreciated every minute of it. But Spoelstra also knows that this is a fragile situation, which is why he was careful to point out just how far Beasley has come defensively since he arrived in the summer.
Still, that only tells you just how bad, really, Beasley's defensive fundamentals were. Keeping up with the power forward at Baylor in the Big 12 is a lot different than guarding the one in the NBA at Boston.
So much attention has been paid to Beasley's defensive struggles that he's become a target of opposing teams, who have simplified their sets to simply getting the ball to whoever Beasley is guarding.
"I think so," Beasley said, when asked if he believes he's being picked on. "But other rookies before me and other rookies now are getting the same treatment."
But that won't last too much longer, Beasley insists. He'll learn faster. He'll be more hungry. He'll grasp - and execute - the team defensive concepts.
Beasley better, for his sake.
Because it should be obvious from Beasley's view on the bench late in games that Spoelstra has quickly run out of places to hide him on the court.
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