All-in with Michael Beasley

[Errntknght]

If the league made screens and ball rotation illegal then Beasley could become a passable defender. When Beasley is engaged he can cover his man while his opponent has the ball. But he is utterly hopeless at defending screens and dealing with rotations. When faced with a screen, especially off the ball, you'd think he has never played basketball before. Some of it is because he is lazy but mostly its because he is just stupid.

The guy shows flash here and there but you cant fix stupid, especially when its combined with lazy. His barrage of long 2s with a foot on the line, his shockingly bad turnovers that occur more than once per game and his total lack of awareness defensively when asked to do anything but cover his man... these are issues that go beyond coaching or just being raw. The dude is an idiot.

You need to meet SweetD - he said (in about post #8 in this thread) that Beasley's help defense (what you vaguely refer to as 'rotations', I think) is good but his man defense stinks. I disagreed strongly with him (in post #10) about the stench - in the Lakers game.

I disagree with you about his defensive awareness just as strongly. I thought it was very good in that game, especially when it game to helping on Gasol. I do remember him going too far chasing Kobe off of screens twice during that game but neither time did he get burned. Scola and Gortat are guilty of that much more often, generally speaking. Of course, I don't know if this is what you are talking about when it comes to screen defense - his man is typically the screen setter so I don't know what else it could be. Some actual examples or more detailed descriptions are needed if you want to convince me. (The Mavs game would be good because I haven't watched that yet. I will look for gross mistakes defending off ball screens.)

 

[JCSunsfan]

Everyone makes this statement.

D'Antoni(I don't get paid to develop rookies)

It is so much crap it is unbelievable and everyone recites it like it is the gospel.

Explain: What rookies that were worth a hoot that D'Antoni didn't play?

Explian: What rookie is Hunter playing extended minutes?

You cannot answer either of those questions with any valid player names, expecially the first one, because they we had no quality rookies when he was coach. The potentially good ones were all traded away to save money by Sarver. As a matter of fact name one rookie that he didn't play that is still in the NBA.

I am waiting.

D'Antoni has his faults but this is not one of them. Most of his first seven players in New York, prior to Melo, were rookies and they all are still playing active roles around the league.

How well are Alando Tucker and Strawberry doing in their careers in the NBA. They were probalby his most talented rookies while in Phoenix.

The rookies were traded away when DAntoni was the GM because HE DID NOT WANT THEM. It was not about money. The same off season the Suns spent more on FA's than they did on rookies and said that was why they traded away the picks.

It wasn't about the rookies the Suns had, it was about the ones that they chose not to draft. They had the chance to draft Rondo, Deng, Iggy and many more.

Hoover, yes, the Suns were in a "win now" mode. But the fact is that they were short-sighted and missed out on rookies that would have made a difference pretty quickly. We desperately needed backup pg for Nash in the summer of 2006 (when DAntoni made his famous comment) and there were two highly regarded pg's available our pick, Rondo and Rodriquez. But no. We did not draft either of them(not for ourselves anyway). Instead, we chose to sign Marcus Freaking Banks in July. That's the fact. We ended up with Marcus Banks over Rajon Rondo, because DAntoni doesnt get paid to develop rookies. That's the context of the comment.

Later, DAntoni said something similar about Jordan Hill (a Knicks rookie at the time). When he was asked why Hill never saw any playing time he said, "I don't play bad rookies, I play good rookies." Its hilarious that he had to play Hill as Laker coach.

This is not a "slow witted" opinion, its factual history.

Good grief. Isn't it possible to make a comment without receiving insults.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Wait a minute. Mike did not make his infamous statement in reference to rookies that he had on the team, he made it in reference to the rookies he would have had been responsible for developing if the team had not disposed of all their first round draft picks and most of their second round picks as well. He may have thought he was being humorous but it was painfully true.

Nice try at revising history...

Thank you!

 

[BC867]

Good grief. Isn't it possible to make a comment without receiving insults.

I gather that ASFN isn't anywhere near as bad as other sites or talk radio.

Nevertheless, the posters who have confidence in the substance of their words don't have to insult to convince. So when you see an insult . . .

It is a debate tactic, but I don't believe it wins points with people who are sincere about their opinions. After all, most of what we post here are opinions. And even those with whom we disagree present food for thought.

 

[PhxGametime]

I remember telling my dad if Beasley doesn't lallygag or Be Easy he'd probably be a decent player... I'm so behind on the Suns but the games I've seen especially that Lakers game have impressed.

 

[mojorizen7]

Everyone makes this statement.

D'Antoni(I don't get paid to develop rookies)

It is so much crap it is unbelievable and everyone recites it like it is the gospel.

Explain: What rookies that were worth a hoot that D'Antoni didn't play?

You cannot answer either of those questions with any valid player names, expecially the first one, because they we had no quality rookies when he was coach. The potentially good ones were all traded away to save money by Sarver. As a matter of fact name one rookie that he didn't play that is still in the NBA.

I am waiting.

I think you answered the question in your own post.

 

[Griffin]

Beasley, after going 2-13 in the Mavs game:

“I shot the ball great. I shot the ball great tonight,” he said. “I got shots I wanted, the ball just didn’t fall. That’s it.”

And his new coach:

“I just think he was just a little off,” Hunter said after Friday’s loss to Dallas. “I don’t know if he was so hyped or so ready that he just got himself off a little bit, but I’m not worried about him. I’ll take what he did tonight, the shots, I’ll take all of it. I’m looking long-term with Mike, and as long as I see progress with Mike, I’m happy.”

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....erious/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[95pro]

Beasley, after going 2-13 in the Mavs game:

“I shot the ball great. I shot the ball great tonight,” he said. “I got shots I wanted, the ball just didn’t fall. That’s it.”

And his new coach:

“I just think he was just a little off,” Hunter said after Friday’s loss to Dallas. “I don’t know if he was so hyped or so ready that he just got himself off a little bit, but I’m not worried about him. I’ll take what he did tonight, the shots, I’ll take all of it. I’m looking long-term with Mike, and as long as I see progress with Mike, I’m happy.”

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....erious/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

So hunter already had an extension? (note: sarcasm for the literal)

 

[Errntknght]

Michael's shot is so flat that he doesn't give himself a significant margin for error. Its probably too late to fix it though I'd encourage him to try it. I expect that his current shot makes him more pressure prone, unless the way his brain works he doesn't feel pressure or he's one of tho few who get sharper under pressure. So far it appears that Beas is quite suseptible to pressure - he played his worst when he was trying to show he could be the man.

No doubt the coaching staff is perfectly aware of his flat arc and will fiddle with it if they think thats a productive course of action.

The article Griffen referenced is all over the Suns coaching staff (Gentry & Hunter) for treating Beasley incorrectly (not regarding his shot). He has great confidence that they're wrong and must change to have any hope of success but he doesn't have a prescription to offer. It's definitely not a 'must read'...

Personally, from what I hear and see, I think Hunter is on the right track - don't make it about scoring, make it about defense - team, help and 1-1 (in that order). Pressure doesn't play the same role defensively as offensively - its generally helpful rather than harmful! Do your job on D and you won't get as down on yourself when you miss some shots or feel like you have to shoot quickly to erase the prior misses before the coach can yank you out.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Shot trajectory is not a difficult correction.

This kid has the physical tools and the skills to be a top nba player. The criticism is his maturity and intelligence. Maturity usually takes care of itself over time (except for Allan Iverson and a few). I know they say you can't coach intelligence, but basketball is not brain surgery. If Metta World Peace (maybe, next to Mark Eaton, the lowest IQ player in the history of the league) then Beas can learn. If he demonstrates a measure of humility, the willingness to listen to the coach, and doesn't believe he knows it all already, he can learn.

The lesson here is Earl Clark. Eventually it clicks. Hopefully it will with Beasley.

 

[Errntknght]

The crux of the matter is motivation and I think Hunter's apparent plan provides that. I do think he has to treat Beasley the same way he treats the other players with regard to playing time. He may need more encouragement than most but that shouldn't cause a problem as long as he's treated the same regarding minutes.

 

[BC867]

I’m looking long-term with Mike ...

So hunter already had an extension? (note: sarcasm for the literal)

Unless he was thinking, "... wherever I go."

 

[AzStevenCal]

Michael's shot is so flat that he doesn't give himself a significant margin for error. Its probably too late to fix it though I'd encourage him to try it. I expect that his current shot makes him more pressure prone, unless the way his brain works he doesn't feel pressure or he's one of tho few who get sharper under pressure. So far it appears that Beas is quite suseptible to pressure - he played his worst when he was trying to show he could be the man.

No doubt the coaching staff is perfectly aware of his flat arc and will fiddle with it if they think thats a productive course of action.

The article Griffen referenced is all over the Suns coaching staff (Gentry & Hunter) for treating Beasley incorrectly (not regarding his shot). He has great confidence that they're wrong and must change to have any hope of success but he doesn't have a prescription to offer. It's definitely not a 'must read'...

Personally, from what I hear and see, I think Hunter is on the right track - don't make it about scoring, make it about defense - team, help and 1-1 (in that order). Pressure doesn't play the same role defensively as offensively - its generally helpful rather than harmful! Do your job on D and you won't get as down on yourself when you miss some shots or feel like you have to shoot quickly to erase the prior misses before the coach can yank you out.

I agree about liking Hunter's approach but I think he's also expressed some concern about his offense. It seems to me (from comments by announcers and others) that he's been instructed to focus on his defensive responsibilities AND on his shot selection. I think he's made it clear he'll get minutes as long as he's giving smart effort defensively and taking the shots he should take without dominating the ball. I think he's convinced Beasley to judge his own offensive performance less on shooting percentage and more on taking good shots. I think he's taking the right approach with this guy, time will tell if it succeeds but it's a lot better than the Gentry way IMO.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

The crux of the matter is motivation and I think Hunter's apparent plan provides that. I do think he has to treat Beasley the same way he treats the other players with regard to playing time. He may need more encouragement than most but that shouldn't cause a problem as long as he's treated the same regarding minutes.

I think he has to have clear standards for each player but I don't think they have to be the same for each player. As long as the team is aware of those standards I don't think it should present much of a problem. It seems to me that Beasley needs to be handled differently than Brown for example. Granted, a lack of effort or focus during practice or games should be dealt with the same way but I'd give Beasley a lot more leeway when it comes to errors on the court. I'd expect him to make more mistakes than most of his teammates especially on the defensive end as he's just discovering that part of the game exists. IOW, he should, for the time being, be judged (and earn playing time) more on effort than results.

Steve

 

[Errntknght]

I don't strongly disagree but I do think the standard for everyone should be based more on effort than results for the present. Speaking as though I wanted us to win more games, this team needs to get in better shape and defensive effort will help get there.