Top 10 Starting Backcourts for the 2014-15 Season

[pancakes3]

I don't know if there's much separating #10 and #15. Both are in the meaty part of the bell curve and the differences would be more personal preference than a matter of fact. He wasn't in the top 5 though.

I mean, who's to say definitively if Kevin Martin was better than Beal last season?

[Kanyewest]

I thought Wiz backcourt was pretty average last year. Beal had a really good playoff run, but that masks the very ordinary regular season he had and the fact he was a below average starting SG. Of course, there's reason to be optimstic going forward, but before you become the best, you first have to become really good and the Wall/Beal combo needs to take that next step.

You really think Beal was a below average starting SG last season? Can you name 15 that were better? He's top 10 in my eyes

Just by going by the regular season, I would say that Beal was average. The problem may not be with Beal himself but it could also be coaching. Still, he took a ton of mid-range jumpers- and was inefficient at an inefficient shot. He was also average defensively.

I would say these guys had better regular seasons

Wade
Stephenson
Joe Johnson
Demar Deroazan
Manu Ginobli
James Harden
Klay Thompson
Aaron Afflalo
Jamal Crawford
Monta Ellis
Wesley Matthews

Still, it can't be ignored that Beal was playing injured. Beal certainly put himself in a higher tier- in that he played so well in the postseason that some were comparing him to Harden (of course Harden was struggling).

[DCZards]

Just by going by the regular season, I would say that Beal was average. The problem may not be with Beal himself but it could also be coaching. Still, he took a ton of mid-range jumpers- and was inefficient at an inefficient shot. He was also average defensively.

I would say these guys had better regular seasons

Wade
Stephenson
Joe Johnson
Demar Deroazan
Manu Ginobli
James Harden
Klay Thompson
Aaron Afflalo
Jamal Crawford
Monta Ellis
Wesley Matthews

Still, it can't be ignored that Beal was playing injured. Beal certainly put himself in a higher tier- in that he played so well in the postseason that some were comparing him to Harden (of course Harden was struggling).

Can’t quibble with your list…other than to say that the encouraging news for the Zards is that all of these SGs are older and more experienced than Beal. On top of that, Wade, Johnson, Ginobli and Crawford are on the downside of their careers, and Matthews, Affalo and Ellis are all, imo, in the prime of their careers.

That leaves only DeRozan, Stephenson, Thompson and Harden with as much--or more--upside as Beal. So I like, make that love, where the Zards are situated as far as starting SG is concerned.

[Illmatic12]

I thought Wiz backcourt was pretty average last year. Beal had a really good playoff run, but that masks the very ordinary regular season he had and the fact he was a below average starting SG. Of course, there's reason to be optimstic going forward, but before you become the best, you first have to become really good and the Wall/Beal combo needs to take that next step.

Wall is already really good, he's there. Most people have him around ~top 5 at his position (and his position is pretty stacked).

Beal isn't really good yet, but neither was Wall at age 20. If Beal continues to get better every season, these two are going to live up to all the billing within a few years.

[dckingsfan]

I thought Wiz backcourt was pretty average last year. Beal had a really good playoff run, but that masks the very ordinary regular season he had and the fact he was a below average starting SG. Of course, there's reason to be optimstic going forward, but before you become the best, you first have to become really good and the Wall/Beal combo needs to take that next step.

Wall is already really good, he's there. Most people have him around ~top 5 at his position (and his position is pretty stacked).

Beal isn't really good yet, but neither was Wall at age 20. If Beal continues to get better every season, these two are going to live up to all the billing within a few years.

I agree with your perspective. My questions is the when not the if... do you think it happens this year? Or is it next year/the year after?

[Illmatic12]

I thought Wiz backcourt was pretty average last year. Beal had a really good playoff run, but that masks the very ordinary regular season he had and the fact he was a below average starting SG. Of course, there's reason to be optimstic going forward, but before you become the best, you first have to become really good and the Wall/Beal combo needs to take that next step.

Wall is already really good, he's there. Most people have him around ~top 5 at his position (and his position is pretty stacked).

Beal isn't really good yet, but neither was Wall at age 20. If Beal continues to get better every season, these two are going to live up to all the billing within a few years.

I agree with your perspective. My questions is the when not the if... do you think it happens this year? Or is it next year/the year after?

I've said this before, but I think Beal is getting hyped one year too early. I think all the stuff people are predicting him to do will happen next year (averaging 20+ppg, bonafide All-Star etc), not this year. Being a scorer is hard, it takes some time to adjust to how teams are defending you. Look at Demar Derozan, it took him several years to adjust.

Next year will be Beal's first year as a well-known #1 option around the league.. he alluded to that in his exit interview he did on Monumental, that teams know who he is now. So he'll be facing tough defenses night in-night out. We have offensive talent and he won't have to do it all himself, so I think Brad will be great-- I'm hoping for around 19/4/4 on 44% fg. Those very well could be All-Star numbers in the Eastern conference.

But I think it's the 2015-2016 season where he will really start to look like a true perennial All-Star player that Barkley et al are predicting. He'll be settled in by then, he will know how teams defend him, his ballhandling and PnR game will be polished, he'll know where to get his shots. And he'd only be 22 years of age..

[Nivek]

I sure hope Wall isn't "there." He still doesn't shoot well enough. He still commits too many turnovers. I think he can be a TON better. I also don't think he was in the vicinity of the top 5 PGs last season. Last season, the top guys were Paul, Curry, Westbrook, Lowry and Conley. Add Dragic if you want to count him as a PG. Wall was in the next group down with Bledsoe, Lawson, Parker, Irving, Deron Williams, Lillard and Isaiah Thomas.

If this is as good as it gets from Wall, the Wizards will desperately need Beal -- or someone -- to become the team's true franchise player. Because Wall hasn't performed at that level.

[dckingsfan]

Good points on Wall and Beal.

I kind of think that this will be the year that Wall takes the step into the top 5 - although it may well take another year to really be able to change speeds in the half-court. His shooting became much more consistent last year. And just as importantly, he notched up his defense.

I also agree that Beal is closer to two years away... I think it is going to be more about learning how to adjust this year.

We will see

[mnriz3]

Can’t quibble with your list…other than to say that the encouraging news for the Zards is that all of these SGs are older and more experienced than Beal. On top of that, Wade, Johnson, Ginobli and Crawford are on the downside of their careers, and Matthews, Affalo and Ellis are all, imo, in the prime of their careers.

That leaves only DeRozan, Stephenson, Thompson and Harden with as much--or more--upside as Beal. So I like, make that love, where the Zards are situated as far as starting SG is concerned.

I like, make that love, that you call them the Zards haha. Haven't heard that before but I like it

[stevemcqueen1]

Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley are not better than Wall and they have nowhere near the kind of individual impact on their teams Wall has on his. That's some can't see the forest through the trees noise. Westbrook is better than Wall, but he missed half the season. The only PGs who were better last year were Paul and Curry.

[Kanyewest]

Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley are not better than Wall and they have nowhere near the kind of individual impact on their teams Wall has on his. That's some can't see the forest through the trees noise. Westbrook is better than Wall, but he missed half the season. The only PGs who were better last year were Paul and Curry.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... 01&y3=2014

Seems pretty close to me. There are cases to be had for Wall, Conley or Lowry based on last season. Lowry especially since he scored more efficiently and had a better assist to turnover ratio. Wall could be more efficient as well if he took more 3 pointers instead of mid-range shots or if he had less mental errors.

Win shares has Lowry way ahead of Wall in the regular season (11.7 to 7.9). Although in the postseason both declined significantly (.6 and .7). Wall's ceiling is certainly the highest - but his jumper and decision making need to improve.

[Hidden Eye]

Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley are not better than Wall and they have nowhere near the kind of individual impact on their teams Wall has on his. That's some can't see the forest through the trees noise. Westbrook is better than Wall, but he missed half the season. The only PGs who were better last year were Paul and Curry.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... 01&y3=2014

Seems pretty close to me. There are cases to be had for Wall, Conley or Lowry based on last season. Lowry especially since he scored more efficiently and had a better assist to turnover ratio. Wall could be more efficient as well if he took more 3 pointers instead of mid-range shots or if he had less mental errors.

Win shares has Lowry way ahead of Wall in the regular season (11.7 to 7.9). Although in the postseason both declined significantly (.6 and .7). Wall's ceiling is certainly the highest - but his jumper and decision making need to improve.

His decision making isn't the primary thing he can setup teammates easily no prob. Jumper does need to improve but he hasn't taken a lot of threes and I doubt that he's gonna take more next season. He averaged 3.8 13-14 season compared to 0.9 12-13 season. I don't see Wall averaging more than 5 3 pointers when Beal and Pierce on team. I do think he overpasses instead of attacking basket his bnb.