[外電] Michael Beasley is trying to find 'the beast' within

看板MiamiHeat (邁阿密熱火)作者UdonisHaslem (Udonis Haslem)時間16年前 (2010/05/10 18:28)推噓6(7推 1噓 1→)

留言9則, 9人參與討論串1/1

During Miami Heat's off-season, Michael Beasley is trying to find 'the beast' within Beasley: Player you saw past two years? I don't like him much MIAMI — One of the first things Heat forward Michael Beasley did after his season ended was to go back to the last place where he knew real success — Kansas State. Since he left college two years ago, he has been walking a tightrope between hope and hopelessness in the NBA. "I need to get back to being me," Beasley said of his quest to reconnect with "that beast in college" who averaged 26 points and 12 rebounds and expected to take the NBA by storm. "I haven't shown nothing yet. "When I find him, that Mike Beasley, you'll know. The one you saw these two years, I don't like him much. Beasley's search could test the Heat's patience in what shapes up as the most critical off-season in franchise history. If the Heat keeps Beasley, it loses a chance to carve out more salary-cap space, possibly enough to re-sign Dwyane Wade and add two marquee free agents. As the No. 2 pick in 2008, Beasley entered the league with great expectations. But he has in no way matched the contributions of players such as No. 1 pick Derrick Rose, No. 3 O.J. Mayo, No. 4 Russell Westbrook (who enhanced his reputation during Oklahoma City's recent playoff appearance) and No. 10 Brook Lopez. "Ever since Michael has been drafted, it seems as though he's been the must maligned player in the NBA," Heat President Pat Riley said of Beasley, whose averages increased slightly this season to 14.3 points and 5.9 rebounds. Part of Beasley's progress was delayed last summer when he spent more than a month at a Houston-area rehabilitation center for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. The Heat has taken steps to help Beasley avoid a setback through the season and this summer. "When you open that door, you have to take responsibility," Riley said. "As for his on-court performance, in practice, in the weight room, all the things we depend on day in and day out with the way we evaluate him, we feel he's going to be on track." Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra strongly suggest Beasley would be a key part of the summer roster revival. But there has been just as much private chatter around the league that Beasley's stop at Kansas State - where he asked the Heat to send him workout gear - could be a layover en route to another NBA destination. Beasley has declined interviews since the Heat's 4-1 playoff series loss to Boston in the first round. His last comments came April 27, when he sat the entire second half of Game 5 in the longest benching of hus career. While his status diminished further in the post-season, NBA fans marveled at the skills of the No. 2 pick from 2007, Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant. Beasley is, figuratively speaking, not in Durant's league at this point. Beasley is a lot closer to another No. 2 selection, Atlanta forward Marvin Williams. It has been five seasons since Atlanta passed on Chris Paul and Deron Williams to take Marvin Williams. Both Williams and Beasley were picked second after one promising season in college. Both spent their initial NBA seasons bouncing between forward positions. Both have been overshadowed - and outperformed - by players picked after them. And both have had to find their way on playoff teams dominated by star guards. "I'm not setting here saying that my career has been what Chris Paul's or Deron's has been," Williams said recently. "But I never lost one night of sleep in five years worrying about what they're doing. "It's got to be the same for Michael Beasley. Guys like Rose, Westbrook, they may have great careers. Their situation is different. Don't think your situation is not as good or you're any less because of it." Atlanta coach Mike Woodson put it more pragmatically. "You can't give up on young guys who come in drafted that high," he said. "But you can't wait forever, either." http://0rz.tw/9DxjI ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 洨畢加油啊QQ 黑暗兵法啟動 >.^ -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 114.45.62.139 ※ 編輯: UdonisHaslem 來自: 114.45.62.139 (05/10 18:29)