Beasley Says He Is Fit But Kidd Lets Him Sit

INDIANAPOLIS — No Jabari Parker.

No Malcolm Brogdon

No offense.

That’s the situation facing the Milwaukee Bucks as they stumble to the regular season finish line and into, what they are hoping, the playoffs.

For the second straight game on Thursday night, the Bucks’ offense was AWOL in a 110-79 clunker to the Indiana Pacers. It came on the heels of another 79-point showing in a 31-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Without the scoring prowess of Parker, who is out for the season with a torn left ACL,.and Brogdon, the Rookie of the Year candidate who has missed the last five games because of what team officials are saying is back problems, the Bucks are offensively challenged.

The general assumption is Bucks coach Jason Kidd would have turned to veteran swingman Michael Beasley and ramped up his playing time. After all, Beasley, whose forte is scoring, has provided the Bucks with instant offense off the bench on numerous occasions this season.

But, inexplicably, Beasley has barely gotten off the bench in the last four games after having been sidelined for 17 games from March 1-29 because of a hyperextended left knee.

After the Pacers’ game, Beasley was asked if he is fully healthy, or if he was still bothered by the knee, the latter of which might explain his lack of playing time lately.

“Nope,’’ Beasley emphatically responded.

He was then asked that, in light of him being physically sound, if he was surprised his minutes have been limited. He played a mere five minutes against Indiana, all in the fourth quarter when the outcome was determined. That was the same number he played against Oklahoma City.

In the two games prior to Oklahoma City, Beasley played eight minutes each against Dallas and Detroit.

“Surprised?’’ said Beasley, who is averaging 9.4 points per game and shooting 55 percent from the field. “It’s not my decision. I stay ready, work out, be positive and when, my name is called, I play.

“I’m not a coach l’m not going to pretend I am one. I could never be one. But whatever is going through that man’s head (Kidd’s) is, first of all, special. And that’s why I can’t think about it.’’

So, he isn’t upset?

No. I’m never upset. Never,’’ Beasley said calmly, matter of factly.

While Beasley isn’t upset about his shortage of playing time lately, he is perturbed about his team’s lackluster performances in the last week.

The Bucks, seemingly a lock to make the playoffs just week or so ago, are suddenly battling for their playoff lives. They are in the fifth seed with a 40-39 record, right behind Atlanta (40-38), and just in front of Chicago (39-40), Indiana (39-40) and Miami (38-40).

The Bucks have three remaining games: Saturday in Philadelphia, Monday in Milwaukee against Charlotte and Wednesday in Boston. Philadelphia and Charlotte are lottery bound and the Bucks should win both of those games.

But Beasley isn’t taking anything for granted now.

“Am I surprised by how we’re playing now? No,’’ Beasley said. “Am I upset? Very. I don’t know if you noticed but our last three games haven’t been good.

“We have to get back to our character and move the ball. Anytime we have less than 25 assists (they had 21 vs. the Pacers), it’s pretty hard for us to win

“We have three games and not one of them is easy. We already lost to Philly; we already lost to Charlotte. No guarantees. We just to play hard, play together.’’

And make sure Beasley spends more time on the court than on the bench.

Photo by Bill Tennessen