Reviewing Beasley’s 2018-2019 Season
After a resurgent 2017-18 season in which Beasley was an important part of the New York Knicks, recording numerous 20- and 30-point games, Beasley signed with the Lakers hoping to continue his success in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, due to the deteriorating health of his mother, Beasley did not play much of the first half of the season to take care of his mom.
He had some high moments with the team scoring 19 points in 19 minutes (unfortunately) versus the Pistons. He also had some low moments such as this Shaqtin-a-fool moment when Beasley tried to check into a game with his practice shorts still on.
Beasley would not get to finish out his season with the Lakers as he was traded to the Clippers along with Ivica Zubac for Mike Muscala. During Beasley’s short 26-game stint with the Lakers he averaged 7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1 assist per game shooting 49 percent from the field and 17.6 percent from deep.
Beasley would subsequently get waived by the Clippers which would lead him to sign with the Guangdong Southern Tigers to play in China.
In the five games Beasley played in China, he averaged 22.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.2 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game shooting 50 percent from the field and 33 percent from deep.
It is important to note that the large disparity between Beasley’s Lakers averages and his overseas averages is the result of his vastly different roles with the two teams. With the Lakers, Beasley was a middle- to end-of-the-bench player who was not given regular playing time every game. Part of that was due to Beasley taking time away to be with his mother, but many other times it was simply due to coach Luke Walton electing not to play Beasley. It is very tough for any player to find a rhythm and perform well when he is not consistently getting playing time on a game to game basis.
In China the competition is strong, but there is no denying that it is not on the same level as the talent found across the NBA. When Beasley went to China he was immediately the best player on his team and one of the best players in the entire league. It did not matter that he had not been practicing with the team or built any chemistry.
Off of Beasley’s talent alone he was able to play from day one and make a major impact on the team. Since Beasley was the best player on his team he was able to play loose and showcase more of his game than he would be able to on most NBA teams.
Let’s analyze what Beasley can provide for the Pistons in this upcoming 2019-20 season.