Michael Beasley welcomed the challenge of going against his idol, Carmelo Anthony. He said he grew up watching Anthony and was intrigued by his moves.
So Saturday in a starting role for the Knicks against Anthony and the Thunder, Beasley got a chance to go one-on-one with one of his heroes.
“For me, it’s fun,” Beasley said. “This game man, you’ve got to beat the best to be the best. He’s one of the best of our era.”
Well, Saturday at the Garden, in a the aftermath of a three-overtime game Friday in Philadelphia, Anthony and the Thunder eventually wilted and hardly looked like the best. Beasley, with the Knicks’ offense sorely lacking through the absences of Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr., arose and scored a season high-tying 30 points as the Knicks made it four straight victories with a 111-96 win over the Thunder.
“Just taking the same shots, man. Doing my thing,” said Beasley, who credited Knicks point guards — actually everybody — for getting him the ball in good positions. “I didn’t have to force any shots, take any tough shots. We’re just swinging the ball the right way. Making the right passes on offense. Playing the game the right way. A real wholesome game, a fast-paced game, which coach likes. Getting stops and that translates to the offensive side.”
Beasley has been a gem for the Knicks who have benefited from his score-in-bunches ability — especially when they are minus their two top scorers. Still, Beasley claimed he did not feel any added pressure to produce points. Imagine if he did?
He still came up with 11-of-18 shooting along with five rebounds and four assists.
“Michael, obviously, was scoring,” coach Jeff Hornacek said.
Obviously.
But Beasley simply shrugged. It was the lefty simply being the lefty, Beasley being Beasley.
“I have to be me or remain me whether I play or not whether I start or not, whether I play 30 seconds or 30 minutes,” said Beasley, after he led the Knicks in scoring for the third time this season. “Every second on the floor counts while I’m out there, just trying to do what I have to do to the best of my ability.
“It just shows the resiliency, the perseverance of this team,” Beasley said about the Knicks winning their fourth straight while offensively strapped. “It shows you that we’ve got a lot of guys who can step up and fill the void if needed. Me, being one of them.”
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Källa: Michael Beasley outdueled idol Carmelo Anthony on huge night
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