Michael Beasley - to start or not to start?
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra hasn't decided whether or not he will start forward Michael Beasley, this year's #2 overall draft pick.
Forward Yakhouba Diawara has started the past two games with Udonis Haslem out. Jamario Moon, who is nursing a sore groin, might not play.
Forward Yakhouba Diawara has started the past two games with Udonis Haslem out. Jamario Moon, who is nursing a sore groin, might not play.
"It's not as much of a controversy to us as it is to everybody else," Spoelstra said today about Beasley's role. "He played 48 minutes the other night. He's going to be in the game. He's going to be playing quite a bit of minutes. He will be playing with Dwyane (Wade)."Beasley, who is averaging 24+ minutes per game on the season, played 30+ minutes in seven of his first nine games. Since then, he's played 30+ minutes in only seven of 68 games. Beasley is 14th among rookies in minutes played.
''He is a great personality to have around the team,'' Spoelstra said. "He's one of my favorite guys to have in the gym because he's always got a smile on his face, he's not moody, and he comes with a positive frame of mind.''On the season, Beasley is the team's second leading scorer and is averaging 13.3 points per game. He is fifth among rookies in scoring behind O.J. Mayo (18.3 ppg), Derrick Rose (16.6 ppg), Eric Gordon (15.9 ppg) and Russell Westbrook (15.4 ppg).
