Brief thoughts about the Heat's game in Paris yesterday:
-Dwyane Wade looked very healthy. He pushed the ball in transition and dunked easily. Drew fouls. Made two threes. I forgot how good he is when healthy - the Olympics reminded me a little, but seeing him in a Heat uniform doing it again was a good reminder.
-Yakhouba Diawara has already become my least favorite player. Started at small forward. He has good size and is athletic. But he shoots the ball towards the basket, hoping it might go in. And, he shot a lot. I can't believe he is going to play once the regular season starts.
-Beasley. Positives: He scores really easily. His best qualities are his decisiveness with the ball, his quickness, and the fact that he can finish with either hand. He had 21 points in 28 minutes. When he faces up at the elbow or the short wing, there are not a lot of defenders, even in the NBA, who can handle him. Incredibly coordinated.
Negatives: He didn't really post up at all, all his offense came off the dribble from the mid-range area. He doesn't seem to jump exceptionally well. Actually, he jumps quickly, but not powerfully - he didn't finish a few plays at the rim that I thought he should have. He is going to struggle to stay on the court, like a lot of young big guys, because he fouls a lot. He isn't big.
Overall: This was my first time watching him against NBA players. People have most often compared him to Glen Robinson or Derrick Coleman. I see the Glen Robinson comparison a lot- like Robinson, Beasley has an innate sense of how to create his own shot. He toyed with Stromile Swift during one stretch, spinning by him for layups twice, then hitting a quick jumper in his face. Though he is long-armed, overall he isn't big like Derrick Coleman, he isn't going to control the paint on either end. He played more like a 3 or a small ball 4 than a power 4. My hope is that as he matures (still only 19), he becomes a little more physical. Pretty good start. He can score in the NBA right now.
-Chalmers isn't even close to being ready to play in the NBA. He struggled to get the offense started against presssure. He reached on defense. He didn't make open shots when he had them. He did show plus quickness. He isn't going to see minutes when the season starts. Marcus Banks outperformed him easily - I thought Banks was okay, got in to the paint and found people for jumpers a couple of times, which is a weakness of his.
-Marion was about what I would expect. It can be disconcerting to watch him play because he is very awkward in the half-court. Shot a lot of odd looking floaters of the dribble, but with decent success. Rebounded and was generally around the ball.
-If possible, Jamal Magloire was even worse than I thought. Checked in to the game in the first quarter, screened for Chalmers, rolled down the lane, Emcee threw him a pass which hit Magloire's right hand, then his head, then his left hand, then fell out of bounds. And that was his best play. Mark Blount was mediocre - showed flashes of life, then would disappear.
"Meet the Nets" (for Plumber)
-Devin Harris looked quick and ready to go.
-Vince Carter left the game early with a strained hamstring on a play where drove and twisted to avoid contact.
-CDR was fantastic, scored 18 points in 28 minutes, including 10 in one second quarter burst. He is long and crafty. He doesn't jump well - he has an old man's game, but he is very proficient with it. He is going to be a productive bench player for a long time in this league.
-Josh Boone looked lively and ready to go.
-Sean Williams looked about the same as last year. He is supremely athletic, but at times wanders and makes odd decisions. Will make a nice jumper, then shoot a turnaround off the backboard at thirty miles an hour. Also, still has the general detached demeanor of a serial ax murderer.
-Ryan Anderson looked better than I thought. He isn't really athletic enough to jump out at you. However, he seemed to have a good feel for the game, and his stroke looked nice. There might be a place for him in the league eventually.
-Neither the Chairman Yi nor Brook Lopez played which was disappointing.
-It is hard to believe that one team has accumulated Jarvis Hayes, Trenton Hassell, and Bobby Simmons at the small forward spot. If any team is looking for a backup level small forward with NBA experience but no overwhelmingly positive skills, this is the team to call.
Finally: Play-by-play announcer Mark Jones termed Mike Beasley's problems as "shenanigans" and "hi-jinxs." Mami and I felt those were inappropriate terms for a black man to be using, but then, that's Mark Jones.
