Michael Beasley needs to find his rhythm

By: Pedro Heizer

In December of 2009, TNT basketball analyst Charles Barkley called out the Miami Heat. Barkley referred to the Miami Heat as Michael Jackson and a bunch of Tito Jacksons, Michael’s brother and a background member of the Jackson 5. What Barkley really meant with that statement is that the Miami Heat, except for Dwyane Wade, are a bunch of unknown players.

This went under the skin of second year forward Michael Beasley. Beasley said last week that he thinks it’s disrespectful to him and the rest of the Miami Heat to be called a bunch of Tito Jacksons… Really Beasley, is your ego that big that you can’t take being called a Tito Jackson? Beasley, newsflash for you, you are not in Kansas State anymore. You are not the featured high profile superstar. In Kansas State you averaged 26 points per game and 12 rebounds per game. But here in Miami you are simply averaging 14 Points per game and 6 rebounds per game. Nearly half of what you averaged in Kansas State.

Here is the thing; there is nothing wrong in being a supporting player. Players like Scottie Pippen, Kevin McHale, James Worthy, and even a guy by the name of Kareem Abdul Jabbar in his later years with the Lakers were supporting players. Being a “Tito Jackson “doesn’t mean that Beasley can’t be a great player or even an all-star just like all those players I’ve named. But the sad truth for Beasley is that he is in a team in which they already have a superstar, unlike Derrick Rose who was drafted before him in the draft and instantly became a “Michael Jackson” to a Chicago team that was in need of a spark, Miami had Dwyane Wade. The NBA is about one player leading and other following. Players like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson where the leaders and Scottie Pippen, Kevin McHale, and James worthy were simply following the greatness.

The same can be said about right now. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Kobe Bryant are the leaders, and Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Beasley, and Ron Artest are following. There is nothing wrong with that. Those players are valued by the team and they are rewarded for their contributions.

Based on what happened last week with the trade deadline, its obvious Pat Riley and the Miami Heat value Michael Beasley. “We took him off the [trade] board. He wasn’t on the board. That’s it.” Said Pat Riley. “I see him down the road, two or three years from now, I’ve said this before, as a 25 [points]-and-10 [rebound] guy every single night and probably 25 and 10 when he’s on bad nights.”

And that’s where I disagree with Riley. Beasley can perfectly be an 18-10 guy to play alongside Dwyane Wade… this is all assuming Riley still sees Dwyane Wade on this team “down the road, two or three years from now.”

The reality is that if Beasley was in the Timberwolves, Nets, Bucks, or Wizards, he would have very well been a 25-and-10 guy. But not here in Miami, here he is just a Tito Jackson.