Having a short-term memory is an essential quality in any good shooter. Steve Kerr, the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-point percentage, used to scribble the letters “FI” on his sneakers, shorthand for “f*** it.”
“If you’re self-conscious as a shooter, you’re doomed,” Kerr explained in Chris Ballard’s excellent book “The Art of a Beautiful Game.”
With 1:23 to go in the third quarter Tuesday, Malik Beasley wasn’t thinking about the wide-open 3 he’d missed 16 seconds earlier when he calmly put on the brakes and pulled up for 3 in transition. Beasley’s miss on the previous possession was a distant memory by then — so far away, it might as well have been a shot he took in 6th grade he’d forgotten about until an old classmate brought it up. There was zero hesitation as Beasley rose straight up and fired a swish from the same spot he’d just flicked one long.
The transition trey, which put Beasley on the board, cut the Spurs’ lead to six. It was one of three shots the third-year guard converted in the second half of Denver’s season-saving Game 2 win. He scored eight points, grabbed three rebounds and handed out three assists in 23 minutes. He was on the floor almost the entire time as the Nuggets erased a 19-point deficit in the second half.
“It was huge, ” Beasley said. “They’re a great team at home, so we wanted to make sure we got one here.”
The Spurs went 32-9 at AT&T Center during the regular season, which tied them with Portland for the second-best home record in the Western Conference. The Nuggets are winless in their last 13 trips to San Antonio. They’ll likely need to at least split Games 3 and 4 to have a realistic shot of advancing. With starting forward Will Barton struggling, Beasley could be asked to take on an even bigger role as the series shifts to Texas.
Barton went 1 of 10 from the field and missed all six of the 3-pointers he attempted Tuesday. Nuggets coach Michael Malone pulled him for good midway through the third quarter after Barton clanged a corner 3 off the side of the backboard. Barton has yet to look like his best self since suffering a core injury he sustained Oct. 20 against Phoenix, which required surgery and sidelined him for 38 games. He shot 40.2% from the field, 34.2% from 3 and averaged 11.2 points — his lowest marks in four full seasons as a Nugget.
Malone said Wednesday he won’t alter his starting lineup for Game 3, but if necessary, he’ll be quick to insert a sub: “We’re gonna stay with the same starting group, but obviously what I think comes into play is you go out there, you look to go with what got you here, and if guys are struggling, you look to get guys in the game.”
If Barton comes out cold once again, that could open the door for Beasley. The 22-year-old revamped his jump shot last summer, making sure he was balanced as he uncoiled, and burst into Denver’s rotation as a result. Beasley was one of 11 players this season to shoot 40% or better from 3 on at least five attempts per game. His gravity could be needed as the Spurs send double teams at Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap.
And Beasley is more than just a shooter. He attacks the rim with ferocity. In Game 1, he nearly dunked Davis Bertans through the hoop. He’s also got a smooth in-between game and has shown signs of improvement as a playmaker. He had six games with four assists or more this season after recording none his first two years in the league. In the play below, watch how he starts heading downhill before the ball’s even in his hands and then makes a nice dump-off pass to Mason Plumlee when the defense collapses on him.
Beasley’s offensive game is polished for someone with fewer than 3,000 career minutes. His defense is what might give Malone pause about thrusting him into an even bigger role. Beasley has incredible physical tools, but too often, he loses focus off ball or can’t contain one on one. In Game 1, the Spurs seemed to make a concerted effort to make Beasley snake around screens. In Game 2, there were at least two instances where the player he was defending blew by him and the mistake resulted in a bucket.
Beasley is still learning what it means to be a complete player. Already, though, he’s made serious strides on the offensive end. He could have a nice side hustle selling jump shot instructional videos. (Hey, JJ Redick did it.) And as he showed in the third quarter in Game 2, he’s got the ability to quickly move on from mistakes.
“I thought Malik Beasley was big tonight,” Malone said. “I remember one time I laughed at myself. I’m talking to Monte Morris, Malik Beasley and Jamal Murray, who are all in the game. I’m saying, ‘Holy shit, we’re in the playoffs, and we’re doing this with young, young kids who are not afraid and fully invested.’ That even makes it more special.”
Beasley helped Denver storm back from 19 down Tuesday. Don’t be surprised if Malone leans heavily on him again.
