Give Beasley more minutes? Not happening

Now that Dwyane Wade is clearly slowed by his right hip/groin injury there’s chatter about giving rookie forward Michael Beasley more minutes so he can score more points. Don’t count that on that happening.

Remember who coaches this team. Erik Spoelstra, a proud graduate of the Pat Riley, defense-first school.

Spoelstra will tell you (as he’s told me the past few weeks) offense isn’t the problem with this team. Defense is the problem.

Beasley, a truly gifted scorer, won’t help the defense, either as an individual or in the team concept.

Yes, Beasley had 21 points in the overtime loss at Boston when Wade didn’t play. And, yes, Beasley had 13 first-half points in the 96-88 loss at New Jersey and then only played three minutes in the third quarter. He ended the game with 17 points. But he played 25 minutes, which is right around his season average.

Beasley wouldn’t have slowed Jarvis Hayes (18 points), Chris Douglas-Roberts (18 points), Vince Carter (17 points) or Brook Lopez (15 points).

Unless Beasley improves his defense, or Spoelstra changes his philosophy, don’t expect Beasley’s minutes to increase.

With the Heat, it’s always defense above all else. Source: Palm Beach Post