December 23
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Watch Michael Beasley and it doesn't take long to realize the Heat's rookie forward has a special talent for finding a way to put the ball in the basket. It also becomes quickly apparent that when the ball goes in to Beasley, there's a good chance it's not coming back out. Among the 17 NBA rookies playing at least 20 minutes per game, Beasley, with 308 shots in 647 minutes, shoots at the highest rate (one attempt for every 2.1 minutes played). Only Dwyane Wade, the league's leading scorer, shoots more often for the Heat (one attempt every 1.8 minutes) and no one else is close to Beasley. Meanwhile Beasley is tied for 15th in assists among rookies averaging 20 minutes or more. The rookies ..."
December 16
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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A day after Michael Beasley said he was trying to regain his "mojo" and "swag," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told his rookie forward that nothing has been lost. "There's not that many 19-year-old big guys that come in on offense where he makes it look easy," Spoelstra said before Monday night's game against the Bucks. "Defensively, yes, he needs to improve on things, like any rookie. I think, defensively, he's like most rookies." Spoelstra said there have been tangible defensive strides. "He's starting to see it now," the first-year coach said. "Now it's just a matter of seeing it earlier and also reacting to it." As for Beasley saying after Sunday's loss in Memphis that "I'm still trying to ..."
December 14
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Forwards Udonis Haslem and Michael Beasley could miss the Heat's game today at Memphis. Haslem attended a family funeral in South Florida on Saturday and was not on the team's flight. Coach Erik Spoelstra said there was a chance Haslem could rejoin the team for the 4 p.m. game. Beasley missed the Heat's 87-73 defeat to Atlanta Friday night with flu-like symptoms. Spoelstra said Beasley was feeling better Saturday morning and would make the team flight but is questionable for the game. If both Beasley and Haslem are out, Spoelstra likely would move Shawn Marion to power forward and start either Yakhouba Diawara or Daequan Cook. With James Jones (wrist) and Dorell Wright (knee) still out, ..."
December 14
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Heat forwards Udonis Haslem and Michael Beasley both could miss the Heat's game Sunday at Memphis. Haslem, the starting power forward, attended a family funeral Saturday in South Florida and was not on the team's flight Saturday afternoon. Coach Erik Spoelstra said there was a chance Haslem could rejoin the team for the 4 p.m. game. "It's a tough day for him," Spoelstra said. "It is possible. We are leaving it all open." Beasley, a rookie reserve, missed the Heat's 87-73 defeat to Atlanta Friday night with flu-like symptoms. Spoelstra said Beasley was feeling better Saturday morning and would make the team's flight but is questionable for the game. If both Beasley and Marion are out, ..."
December 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Miami Heat will be without rookie forward Michael Beasley for tonight's game against the Atlanta Hawks at AmericanAirlines Arena. Beasley did not attend the morning shootaround due to flu symptoms, but the team was hopeful of a possible return in time to assume what has become a regular role as sixth man. Instead, the No. 2 overall NBA Draft pick out of Kansas State missed his first game of the season. Going into Friday night, Beasley stood second on the Heat in scoring at 13.9 points per game. He had started the first 15 games of the season before being shifted into a reserve role."
December 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Despite entering Saturday's game at AmericanAirlines Arena with his Thunder a league-worst 2-18, Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant had a smile on his face. Facing the Heat's Michael Beasley meant facing his former sidekick on the P.G. Jaguars, the AAU team the two helped dominate from when they were 10 to 14 years old. "That was probably the most fun I ever had, ever," Durant said of his time with Beasley on that Prince Georges (Md.) County team. "It was going to practice with your best friend and knowing practice was going to be fun. It was knowing we were going to win, so every game was going to be fun for us." After Durant went No. 2 in the 2007 Draft, Beasley was the No. 2 selection ..."
November 24
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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This time, the Heat allowed Michael Beasley to play. This time, the rookie forward made the opposition pay. After yanking the No. 2 overall draft pick during the previous two games due to foul trouble and defensive deficiencies, first-year coach Erik Spoelstra gambled after Beasley picked up his fourth foul midway through the third quarter of Saturday's 109-100 victory over the Pacers. "He was starting to get into his rhythm," Spoelstra said. "I figured ride him as long as we could." Allowed to remain on the court, Beasley scored 10 points in that third quarter as the Heat erased a 15-point deficit. With the momentum regained, the Heat rode another strong performance from Dwyane Wade to ..."
November 22
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Michael Beasley's homecoming this week to Washington was soured by more than his foul-filled, six-point effort against the Wizards. A source familiar with the situation confirmed Friday that the Miami Heat rookie forward was cited for speeding Monday night, as he visited with family members. According to the source, Beasley was brought in by the police "at the officer's discretion" after being cited for traveling at an excessive speed. No other violations were cited, the source said. Beasley did not mention the incident at Tuesday's 94-87 Heat victory at the Verizon Center against the Wizards, but made the team aware of being cited. The No. 2 overall selection in last June's NBA Draft out ..."
November 22
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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After a handful of productive games, Heat rookie forward Michael Beasley thought he had solved the NBA equation. But after two games with limited minutes, and still learning the Heat's defense, Beasley, despite averaging almost 15 points a game, admits that his transition from college to the NBA at 19 years old is a work in progress. "It's tough. I thought I was there," Beasley said. "It's hard. Me being so young, so new to the league, we've already played 12 games. In college, the 12th game is in January. It's tough getting used to the games and practices and all the traveling." Beasley said the biggest transition has been the emphasis on defense. Beasley admits he is use to outscoring ..."
November 21
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Ira Winderman
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After some of his team's rougher performances, Erik Spoelstra has been quick to point out that this is about establishing a culture, installing a system, building a foundation. His passion while offering those comments is heartfelt. And yet, victory seemingly is trumping all else. No qualms with that here. After 15-67, the only way for the Heat to distance itself from the recent past is in the standings, with 6-6 a good start. Still, the curious case of Michael Beasley deserves further inspection, especially after his 16 minutes Tuesday in Washington were followed by 12 Wednesday against visiting Toronto. Yes, foul trouble was a factor in each case. But he finished with just four against ..."
November 4
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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It is a scene repeated countless times during the NBA season. Before the game, on the locker-room whiteboard, listed next to select players is the notation "L", often followed by an exclamation point, or two, or three, perhaps even an asterisk. From the sideline, as soon the ball is thrown into the post, assistant coaches crescendo "Lefty!"... "Watch the left!" ... "Going left!" And yet, seemingly since the days Dr. James Naismith nailed those peach baskets to the wall, after the slightest pump fake, head fake or body shake to the right, Lefty has his layup. "Everything in your instincts, whatever your scheme is, your instincts tell you that it's a right-handed player," Heat coach Erik ..."
November 2
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Dave Hyde
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The lasting image of this home opener came an hour before tip-off. Michael Beasley sat at his locker in uniform, ready to go. Even his mouthpiece was in. And as he talked all serious about the coming game, and season, this dark decal kept flashing from the front of the mouthpiece. "Oh, that's Batman," Beasley said. He pulled back his upper lip to show, indeed, there was a Batman insignia. "He's the best superhero," Beasley said. "He's just a normal person. Superman flies. He jumps buildings. Bullets bounce off him. Who thinks they can be like that? But you can see yourself doing good in the world as a normal person like Batman." It was Halloween on Friday, and you might think this was just ..."