Bradley Beal

[TheBigThree]

Those workouts have to be pretty old. He looks noticeably less built and doesn't have the tats he has now on his right arm. Might be from before his Freshman year (which, granted wasn't that long ago)?

That said, I can't wait to see Beal in action. If you watch his High School highlights you'll see him take it to the rack hard. There is a reason he compares that part of his game to DWade. At Florida I just don't think he was used properly playing a lot at SF and it certainly didn't showcase his ability to get to the basket.

[fishercob]

I love it.

I get more hyped seeing Bradley work than his college highlights. The talent is clearly there; what is most exciting is that he seems to want to put the work in, that 's got his head on straight, and that he's smart.

It will take a little bit of time, but this guy is going to be special.

[FAH1223]

Met Beal briefly at the Verizon Center Open House last night, kid still has that "man, is this happening look?" on his face.

[The Consiglieri]

What would the starting lineup look like at the halfway point in early February? I don't have a major issue with Crawford starting because I figure he'll lose the job eventually, and if he puts up a strong fight for it, it will simply means that like the rest of the kids, he's actually growing as a player instead of simply stagnant.

My question though is what would our starting lineup be at the halfway point next year? What do we expect to see?

My guess is:

PG: Wall
SG: Beal
SF: Ariza
PF: Nene/Booker/Ves
C: Seraphin/Nene/Okafor

If that holds up, it looks like a 34-48 to 36-46 team to me.

[tontoz]

What would the starting lineup look like at the halfway point in early February? I don't have a major issue with Crawford starting because I figure he'll lose the job eventually, and if he puts up a strong fight for it, it will simply means that like the rest of the kids, he's actually growing as a player instead of simply stagnant.

My question though is what would our starting lineup be at the halfway point next year? What do we expect to see?

My guess is:

PG: Wall
SG: Beal
SF: Ariza
PF: Nene/Booker/Ves
C: Seraphin/Nene/Okafor

If that holds up, it looks like a 34-48 to 36-46 team to me.

Assuming no other roster upgrades the lack of offense at the 3 will be a major problem and make it tough to get over 40 wins. Their defense should be top 10 though. 35 wins sounds about right.

[nate33]

What would the starting lineup look like at the halfway point in early February? I don't have a major issue with Crawford starting because I figure he'll lose the job eventually, and if he puts up a strong fight for it, it will simply means that like the rest of the kids, he's actually growing as a player instead of simply stagnant.

My question though is what would our starting lineup be at the halfway point next year? What do we expect to see?

My guess is:

PG: Wall
SG: Beal
SF: Ariza
PF: Nene/Booker/Ves
C: Seraphin/Nene/Okafor

If that holds up, it looks like a 34-48 to 36-46 team to me.

I think Seraphin's confidence will be hurt by the presence of Okafor, resulting in him regressing a bit. My guess is that Okafor will be the starter at C during the middle of the season unless there are injuries.

[queridiculo]

Assuming that the team does indeed envision Nene as a PF, I'd expect the team to start Okafor alongside him from day one.

I don't really see how that should leave Seraphin with a lack of confidence though. Both Nene and Okafor have been averaging just around 30mpg, leaving plenty of time for Seraphin.

What I'm more worried about is how Booker and Vesely will factor into things going forward.

Vesely may well be the odd man out if Booker doesn't end up getting dealt.

[DCZards]

I'm also not worried about Seraphin's confidence. If Kevin plays well, he'll earn and get decent minutes. If he struggles due to lack of confidence, he's in the wrong profession.

[nate33]

I'm also not worried about Seraphin's confidence. If Kevin plays well, he'll earn and get decent minutes. If he struggles due to lack of confidence, he's in the wrong profession.

I don't think it's that simple. It's hard to play when you're looking over your shoulder at the coach who is ready to yank you for any small mistake. Having the confidence of knowing you're going to get at least 25 minutes each night allows you to play loose and not stress about making mistakes.

[closg00]

I'm also not worried about Seraphin's confidence. If Kevin plays well, he'll earn and get decent minutes. If he struggles due to lack of confidence, he's in the wrong profession.

I don't think it's that simple. It's hard to play when you're looking over your shoulder at the coach who is ready to yank you for any small mistake. Having the confidence of knowing you're going to get at least 25 minutes each night allows you to play loose and not stress about making mistakes.

+1 Remember even Dray playing with joy and freedom after AJ got traded?

[DCZards]

I don't think it's that simple. It's hard to play when you're looking over your shoulder at the coach who is ready to yank you for any small mistake. Having the confidence of knowing you're going to get at least 25 minutes each night allows you to play loose and not stress about making mistakes.

Do we know that Wittman is the kind of coach who will yank a player (Seraphin in this case) for any small mistake? Or are we making an assumption?

[DCZards]

+1 Remember even Dray playing with joy and freedom after AJ got traded?

Yeah, and how did that turn out in the long run? Maybe Dray should have had less "joy and freedom" and more competition for minutes.

[fishercob]

I don't think it's that simple. It's hard to play when you're looking over your shoulder at the coach who is ready to yank you for any small mistake. Having the confidence of knowing you're going to get at least 25 minutes each night allows you to play loose and not stress about making mistakes.

Do we know that Wittman is the kind of coach who will yank a player (Seraphin in this case) for any small mistake? Or are we making an assumption?

It's an assumption. My own assumption is that Wittman's marching orders are to win games AND develop the young players. Not easy stuff by any stretch, I know. BUt I think while Oak and Nene are going to start together, Randy is going to do his best to keep one of them on the floor for much of the game. I do not that we'll see -- at least initially -- long stretches with two of the young bigs together, unless they have made big strides on the boards and/or in defensive awareness.

[nate33]

I don't think it's that simple. It's hard to play when you're looking over your shoulder at the coach who is ready to yank you for any small mistake. Having the confidence of knowing you're going to get at least 25 minutes each night allows you to play loose and not stress about making mistakes.

Do we know that Wittman is the kind of coach who will yank a player (Seraphin in this case) for any small mistake? Or are we making an assumption?

We know that Seraphin played much better once McGee was gone.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

We know that Seraphin played much better once McGee was gone.

And now they have Okafor. How will they impact Seraphin's play?

[Shorty]

We know that Seraphin played much better once McGee was gone.

And now they have Okafor. How will they impact Seraphin's play?

I would expect that Seraphin's efficiency will continue to improve because of better depth at center: he'll either get to play more with Nene, or he'll get more favorable matchups against the opposition's reserves. Also, foul trouble should be less of a concern.

By the way, Beal rocks.

[go'stags]

I don't think it's that simple. It's hard to play when you're looking over your shoulder at the coach who is ready to yank you for any small mistake. Having the confidence of knowing you're going to get at least 25 minutes each night allows you to play loose and not stress about making mistakes.

Do we know that Wittman is the kind of coach who will yank a player (Seraphin in this case) for any small mistake? Or are we making an assumption?

We know that Seraphin played much better once McGee was gone.

Yes, but that was also before Seraphin showed how effective he could be. Wittman knows what he saw last year, and didn't Seraphin give Wittman all type of credit for developing him last year?

I still gotta think a trade is coming.

[MJG]

We know that Seraphin played much better once McGee was gone.

And now they have Okafor. How will they impact Seraphin's play?

I would expect that Seraphin's efficiency will continue to improve because of better depth at center: he'll either get to play more with Nene, or he'll get more favorable matchups against the opposition's reserves. Also, foul trouble should be less of a concern.

By the way, Beal rocks.

Let's not get off topic; Beal talk goes here.

[King d]

Let's not get off topic; Beal talk goes here.

[theboomking]

I didn't get to watch the game today, and obviously, it is only summer league, but Beal was very efficient today, putting up 22 points on only 14 shots, with only 2 turnovers. He also surprised me was how athletic he looked in highlights.