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Archive for Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Round One to Beasley over Rose

John Raoux/AP Photo. Enlarge photo.

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, left, defends against a drive to the basket by Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers during an NBA summer league game. Rose, the No. 1 pick in last month's NBA Draft, had 10 points, while Chalmers, a second-rounder, had 11 points and six assists in the game Monday in Orlando, Fla.

By Tim Reynolds - Associated Press Sports Writer

July 8, 2008

John Raoux/AP Photo

Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley takes a break on the bench. Beasley had 28 points in his summer-league debut.

John Raoux/AP Photo

Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley, center, drives past Chicago Bulls guard Keith Langford, left, and guard Derrick Rose during an NBA summer league game. Beasley had 28 points in his pro debut Monday in Orlando, Fla.

How several notables fared in the Heat's 94-70 summer-league victory Monday over the Bulls:

¢ Heat: Michael Beasley 9-for-21 FG, 9-for-12 FT, 9 rebounds, 28 points

¢ Heat: Mario Chalmers 2-for-8 FG, 1-for-3 3pt FG, 6-for-7 FT, 6 assists, 11 points

¢ Bulls: Derrick Rose 3-for-8 FG, 4-for-8 FT, 4 assists, 10 points

¢ Bulls: Keith Langford 5-for-6 FG, 1-for-2 3pt FG, 13 points

Orlando, Fla. — Michael Beasley stood in the doorway to the gym an hour before gametime, iPod in his left hand, head bobbing slightly as he chatted with new Miami Heat teammate Mario Chalmers.

He was the picture of cool.

And on the court, his demeanor didn't change much.

If Beasley was the tiniest bit anxious about his first pro outing - one that came against the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose, the only player selected before him in last month's NBA Draft - he hid the nerves perfectly. Beasley scored 28 points in 23 minutes, lifting Miami past Chicago, 94-70, on Monday in the Orlando summer league opener for both teams.

It was the ninth-highest scoring performance in Orlando summer-league history, and true to his form, Beasley wasn't the least bit impressed.

"Could have played better," he said. "Could have got a couple more assists, made a couple extra passes, got a couple more rebounds, could have got a couple stops early on."

He was 9-for-21 from the field, with nine rebounds and 19 points in the second half - matching the total that Bulls forwards Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas, both second-year NBA players, managed in the entire game. The Bulls started with Thomas guarding Beasley, switched to put Noah on him midway through the first quarter, and neither had much of an answer.

"He's a great player on the pick-and-roll and he's going to be someone who'll be very tough to guard," Noah said. "I mean, I was very impressed. He was very comfortable in everything that he wanted to do and he did a great job."

Meanwhile, Rose had some moments, but simply never took over the game offensively the way Beasley did.

The guard who spearheaded Memphis' run to the NCAA title game this past season finished with 10 points on 3-for-8 shooting, with four assists and five turnovers - mostly while being guarded by Chalmers, who hit the big shot as Kansas beat Rose's Tigers in overtime in that national championship game.

"We didn't win," Rose said, "so I think I played horrible. But tomorrow's a new day."

Kasib Powell had 15 points, and Chalmers added 11 points and six assists for Miami. Demetris Nichols and ex-Jayhawk Keith Langford each had 13 points for Chicago.

Each team plays five games in the six-team, weeklong summer league, which also features entries from Indiana, Orlando, New Jersey and Oklahoma City. Summer league games are really glorified scrimmages, each team dressed in practice gear, with no fans in the bleachers.

But Beasley vs. Rose garnered plenty of attention, which Beasley tried to ignore.

"You can put the Jolly Green Giant out there," Beasley said. "I'm going to still play, man."

Many players from the first game, Indiana-Oklahoma City, stuck around to watch the top two draft picks. A slew of NBA coaches and executives made sure to get good seats around the court before tip-off. Heat forward Dorell Wright, who had just flown home from California, decided to make the 3 1/2-hour drive north to watch the former Kansas State forward he hopes to be teammates with next season.

"I like to see the young guys," Wright said. "And he's going to be good."

He didn't disappoint.

Beasley's first shot was blocked by Thomas - "I caught a flat, man," Beasley said - but that was a rare lowlight. He split defenders off the dribble for lay-ups. He rebounded his own missed three-pointer, turned toward the basket and laid it back in. He switched at the perfect time on some pick-and-rolls, denying Rose the chance to penetrate.

"He's a great player," Rose said. "He's a force."

Beasley wasn't perfect. He forced some shots, especially early. He picked up three fouls in the opening minutes, and even though players can't foul out in summer league, Heat coach Keith Askins decided to teach the rookie a lesson and sat him for the second quarter.

"I'm going to let him play as long as he wants," Askins said, "as long as he stays out of trouble."

This much is already clear: With Beasley alongside Dwyane Wade, the Heat expect to be far removed from the 15-win wreck of a season they endured last year. The Bulls couldn't stop him from scoring, and couldn't even stop him from singing during stoppages of play, either. (Yes, they did ask.)

"I didn't want to," Beasley said. "I was happy, singing a happy song."

After his first pro outing, so were the Heat.

"Well, he's a hell of a basketball player," Askins said. "But we already knew that."

Discussion

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8 July 2008
at 6:54 a.m.

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TopJayhawk (Anonymous) says…

It also sounds like Mario outplayed Rose…..Again!!!
8 July 2008
at 10:07 a.m.

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VTHawk (Anonymous) says…

Sounds like Keith Langford outplayed Rose too…
8 July 2008
at 10:22 a.m.

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logicsound04 (Anonymous) says…

Sounds like Rose was overvalued.

Mark my word, in a couple decades, people will look back at this draft similarly to how they view the 1984 draft.

The head-and-shoulders best player in the draft (Jordan/Beasley) will have gone #2 to an overvalued player (Bowie/Rose).

Now before anyone crucifies me for comparing Beasley to Jordan, I'm not. I'm merely saying that both years, a far better player will have been selected #2.

Sometimes NBA GMs try to get too clever for their own good.
8 July 2008
at 10:39 a.m.

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fu7il3 (Anonymous) says…

In all fairness, we don't know for sure that he has been overvalued. Give it a season or two. There are a lot of high draft picks that go on to nothing and a lot of lows that go on to long careers.

That being said, I would have taken Beasley over Rose.
8 July 2008
at 11:13 a.m.

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Eride (Anonymous) says…

Good job Mario!
8 July 2008
at 11:18 a.m.

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ObiWan (Anonymous) says…

In the '84 draft, Bowie and Jordan were taken with pick 2 and 3, respectively. The number 1 pick that year was Hakeem Olajuwon, who won two championships with Houston. The Blazers already had one of the best 2 guards in history with Clyde Drexler, so you can't really fault them for passing on Jordan, either.

My point is that the draft is pretty much a crapshoot, and there's really no way of knowing who's going to rise to the top of the NBA. Paul Pierce went number 10, and Carlos Boozer was a 2nd round pick. These guys are franchise players, but the top picks passed on them.

That being said, I hope Langford can make the Bulls roster!
8 July 2008
at 11:34 a.m.

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geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…

You're not going to be able to make a comparison of the relative values of Beasley and Rose until the end of their third seasons at the earliest; reason being that it's unfair to Rose. With a very, very few exceptions, it takes a point guard that long to adjust to the NBA game. The jump from college to the pros is exponentially higher for that position than any other.
8 July 2008
at 4:37 p.m.

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d_prowess (Anonymous) says…

I agree with genius overall, but at the same time, given the value placed on Rose, he should have looked better given the similiar competition.
8 July 2008
at 10:28 p.m.

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gram77 (Anonymous) says…

Geez, it was one game. Give Rose a chance.