New York Knicks: Who stepped up against the Houston Rockets?

Michael Beasley

If only for two quarters, Michael Beasley looked like the best player on the court. The New York Knicks forward eventually came back down to reality, but he established himself as a player whom head coach Jeff Hornacek should consider for additional playing time.

The Knicks desperately need a reserve who can consistently create offense in isolation, and Beasley has the tools to fill that role.

Beasley finished the loss to the Houston Rockets with a season-high 30 points, as well as eight rebounds, two assists, and one block in 36 minutes of action. He shot 14-of-23 from the field, and while he struggled with turnovers and free throws, was dominant in the first half.

Beasley may not go off on a nightly basis, but he looked the part of a player who’s capable of leading the second unit as a scorer.

Beasley needs to be more decisive off of defensive rebounds, and he must cut down on the careless turnovers. He can attack in isolation and get the buckets that no bench player has been able to consistently generate in 2017-18, however, and that’s a skill New York should explore.

If there’s only one reason to be encouraged by this game, it’s that Beasley proved that he has the skill level to be a situational scoring threat.