Bradley Beal

[Nivek]

come lets fill in some new news washington!!

Jordan Crawford could start over Bradley Beal for Wizards
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... r-wizards/

Well of course. Crawford's been in the league a couple years, which means he has experience. He's a veteran, and the team is officially worshiping at the Altar of the Veteran right now. Plus, he's a scorer.

Also, Crawford is under contract, so he's legally obligated to play for the Wizards this season. That's not much of an advantage because Beal is also under contract, and therefore required to play for the Wizards.

[nate33]

come lets fill in some new news washington!!

Jordan Crawford could start over Bradley Beal for Wizards
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... r-wizards/

This doesn't bother me at all. This is the message Wittman should be sending. If a rookie wants to start, he better earn it. He must beat out the existing starter in training camp.

My guess is that management (like everyone here) hopes that Beal beats out Crawford and becomes the starter. But they can't just give the starting job to Beal.

[tontoz]

I don't expect much from Beal during the 1st half of the season. He will probably have some jitters and i expect him to defer quite a bit to the vets. I think bringing him off the bench is the right call.

During the first half of his rookie season Wall rarely attacked the basket in the half court set. It seemed like the only time he went to the rim was on fast breaks. He deferred way too much. Then one day in Feb out of the blue he started attacking in the half court and kept it up the rest of the season.

[Nivek]

For what it's worth, I agree that every player should have to win their spot in the starting lineup and/or in the rotation. That said, Crawford has been terrible. Beal should be able to beat him out for the SG spot -- even as a teen, even as a rookie, even without whatever advantage Wittman thinks Crawford has because he's been in the league a couple years. Crawford's "experience" is playing poorly for an awful team.

[GhostsOfGil]

For what it's worth, I agree that every player should have to win their spot in the starting lineup and/or in the rotation. That said, Crawford has been terrible. Beal should be able to beat him out for the SG spot -- even as a teen, even as a rookie, even without whatever advantage Wittman thinks Crawford has because he's been in the league a couple years. Crawford's "experience" is playing poorly for an awful team.

That's what I'm thinking as well. How bad does Beal have to be to be worse than Crawford? I'm not sure it's even possible. I'll go out on a limb and say even Beal at his worst, is still a better option.

[montestewart]

come lets fill in some new news washington!!

Jordan Crawford could start over Bradley Beal for Wizards
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... r-wizards/

This doesn't bother me at all. This is the message Wittman should be sending. If a rookie wants to start, he better earn it. He must beat out the existing starter in training camp.

My guess is that management (like everyone here) hopes that Beal beats out Crawford and becomes the starter. But they can't just give the starting job to Beal.

Yeah, I'm not bothered either. I was just trying to satisfy Knighthonor's need for all things Beal. Tried again to find some dirt on Beal, but that kid just doesn't get it.

PS: Knighthonor, I used Google to find that story.

[verbal8]

For what it's worth, I agree that every player should have to win their spot in the starting lineup and/or in the rotation. That said, Crawford has been terrible. Beal should be able to beat him out for the SG spot -- even as a teen, even as a rookie, even without whatever advantage Wittman thinks Crawford has because he's been in the league a couple years. Crawford's "experience" is playing poorly for an awful team.

That's what I'm thinking as well. How bad does Beal have to be to still be better than Crawford? I'm not sure it's even possible. I'll go out on a limb and say even Beal at his worst, is still a better option.

I think he would have to be Jimmer Fredette or Kemba Walker bad to not be able to beat out Crawford for the starting job.

[GhostsOfGil]

For what it's worth, I agree that every player should have to win their spot in the starting lineup and/or in the rotation. That said, Crawford has been terrible. Beal should be able to beat him out for the SG spot -- even as a teen, even as a rookie, even without whatever advantage Wittman thinks Crawford has because he's been in the league a couple years. Crawford's "experience" is playing poorly for an awful team.

That's what I'm thinking as well. How bad does Beal have to be to still be better than Crawford? I'm not sure it's even possible. I'll go out on a limb and say even Beal at his worst, is still a better option.

I think he would have to be Jimmer Fredette or Kemba Walker bad to not be able to beat out Crawford for the starting job.

As bad as Jimmer was, he was still better than Crawford IMHO.

[Nivek]

Here's how Crawford compares to Fredette and Walker in my rating system (100 = league average player; 60 = replacement level):

- Walker -- 85
- Crawford -- 60
- Fredette -- 50

[payitforward]

Here's how Crawford compares to Fredette and Walker in my rating system (100 = league average player; 60 = replacement level):

- Walker -- 85
- Crawford -- 60
- Fredette -- 50

That relative ranking seems about right to me.

Can you explain the phrase "replacement level" please? I assume it's similar to "basement level" !!

[Nivek]

First time I read about "replacement level" was years ago in baseball stat geekery. The concept being that a replacement level player performs at the approximate level to be expected from a readily available free agent. In basketball, the concept doesn't work quite as well because teams slide players over from other positions to "fill in" rather than calling someone up from the minors.

Still, it's a useful concept. In my stuff, I set "replacement level" at about the productivity level of the 10th man for the worst team. That level ends up being 60 (or very close to it) in my "standarized score."

So, what those numbers above are saying is that Walker was below average, but not so much so that he's useless or beyond hope. Crawford was awful and Fredette was worse.

[hands11]

http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/2012/1 ... p4-2234772

Beal continues to impress me with his maturity. I saw it in the first interview I saw of him way before draft day and nothing has changed my opinion.

Nothing phases this kid. I think they struck gold with him.

[payitforward]

Beal has his first game under his belt. How well do you think he played?

Here's what he did in 27 minutes -

Scored 18 points on 17 FGAs and 2 FTAs

Had 2 steals and one turnover

Committed 4 fouls and had 2 assists

Grabbed 3 rebounds.

Thoughts?

[montestewart]

Beal has his first game under his belt. How well do you think he played?

Here's what he did in 27 minutes -

Scored 18 points on 17 FGAs and 2 FTAs

Had 2 steals and one turnover

Committed 4 fouls and had 2 assists

Grabbed 3 rebounds.

Thoughts?

All I have to go on are a few spotty press reports, kembawalker's on-the-spot report in the game thread (thanks kembawalker), and a single box score from one game. Looks pretty good, and nothing stands out that concerns me. The four fouls, 2 FTAs, and 3 blocks against (which I think led the team) might be partially due to rookie learning curve in attacking the basket and other areas. Anyone know any more about this?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

When Tyrus Thomas and Bismack Biyombo are on the opposing team, BA (blocks against) are going to happen to whoever drives the lane. Diop is no slouch as a shot blocker, either. Also, Haywood is a smart defender.

I would not be too concerned about Beal getting his shot sent back. He's attacking the rim and fearless, early. I said before I thought Beal would be the best player on the Wizards in couple years. Nothing to make me take that back has happened.

Any time a rookie knocks down a couple threes that early in preseason, and he also attacks the lane, that's a good sign. A really good sign.

Beal is for real.

[payitforward]

Any time a rookie knocks down a couple threes that early in preseason, and he also attacks the lane, that's a good sign. A really good sign.

Beal is for real.

Yup. For his first game, seems very good. And you can say the same about MK-G. Excellent first game.

For those two guys; wish we could have seen the game.

[Nivek]

Promising start for Beal. Good, productive game.

[fishercob]

I'll say this -- it feels different. For years and seemingly forever when we have had a young player debut, we have seemingly had to explain away as to why it was lackluster. "He's playing hurt." "Other guys are hurt and he's not playing in the right role or has too much pressure on him." "The coach sucks." "The GM sucks." "The owner sucks." "He didn't have an ideal offseason."

On and ON and ON.

And BB just shows up and scores 18 points and seems to fit in just fine.

[DCZards]

One word sums up why Beal's start is so solid: maturity. It's something that has been said about him from the jump and it comes across in his speech, body language and overall demeanor. Don't want to go overboard about a 20 year old rook who has only played a handful of SL games and one preseason game, but there is a presence about Beal that screams "I got this."

[tontoz]

I am going to try to avoid jumping to any conclusions about Beal, especially after a preseason game that wasn't televised lol.