Bradley Beal - Part II

[dlts20]

Highlights from last night. The crazy thing about Beal is that he went from lookiing undersized to now looking kinda lanky at times. He looks like he grew like an inch and a half since the draft. Combine that with the fact that he obviously dribbled non stop over the summer and his composure, he looks lethal. Looks like a more athletic Ray Allen with improving handles and good defense.

If Wall steps up like last year then there is no way they wouldnt be the best backcourt in the league. My only fear is that he almost played too well in the Preseason. I felt the same way about by Skins this Preseason. Felt like they were peaking at the wrong time and they could start off with duds until they get their 2nd wind. Hopefully Beal doesnt do that. I have no dbout that he would get it back at some point if he does but I want to see him start off just like he's playing now.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUJ-nQRxWz4[/youtube]

[nate33]

Wow. He doesn't even look like the same player. He is so much better off the dribble. The Beal of last season usually looked lost in last-minute isolation possessions.

He looks like a sure fire top 5 SG within the next year or two, and may become the best SG in the league at some point. Heck, outside of Harden, I don't think there's any SG under the age of 30 who looks like he'll be better than what Beal will be in a year or so.

[tontoz]

Last year Beal was 19. You have to be willing to cut a teenager a little slack before making judgements on him. It has to be nervewracking to be playing in the NBA at that age.

[dobrojim]

[snippage]

The comparisons definitely aren't clean, players are so individual that they never are. I think it's important to note in a comparison to Allen that Beal has a long way to go before he'll be the kind of shooter Allen is. But Allen's the best. Similarly, in the Wade comparison, it's important to dsitinguish that, at one point, Wade was the best finisher at the guard position, maybe the best finisher in the game. And he was also the most physically intimidating and well rounded guard during his prime. He's bigger than Beal. Important differences because Allen was basically the platonic ideal shooter at the SG position and Wade was the platonic ideal slasher.

But, some of the elements of what made Allen and Wade great shooting guards are there in Beal, even if it's to a lesser extent. The fact that he's got some of both makes it really easy to get carried away with his potential. With his athleticism and build and inside scoring ability, it's really really rare to also get such a great shooter.

platonic or iconic

[Nivek]

Beal has a ways to go to become the shooter that Ray Allen became, but last season he was already very much the shooter Allen was.

Here are pace-adjusted (to a pace of 100 possessions per 48 minutes) per-40 minute stats for Beal's rookie season vs. Allen's rookie season.

Code: Select all

STAT    Beal    Allen
Season  2012-13 1996-97
Age     19      21
Team    WAS     MIL
GMS     56      82
MPG     31.2    30.9
Usg%    20.8%   20.6%
Ortg    102     107
efg     .477    .494
2pt%    .424    .448
3pt%    .386    .393
FT%     .786    .823
Reb     5.3     5.8
Ast     3.4     3.7
Stl     1.2     1.3
Blk     0.7     0.2
Tov     2.2     2.6
PF      2.8     3.9
Pts     19.4    19.5
PPA     92      100


[dlts20]

I know it sounds kinda weird but in some ways I almost think Beal is kinda bad for Wall in terms of confidence. Wall has shown that he can get down on himself pretty easily. Obviously a guy with Beal's talents compliments Wall's game perfectly. However, I think Wall almost gets down sometimes when he is off or has a turnover while Beal is going off. I think he starts feeling a lil bit of pressure.

Like its one thing for you to be compared to guys like Irving & Rose and having them outplay you but its another thing when you are getting 80mil and some are starting to think that a 2nd year 20 yo is better then you. I think he gets down and then starts to defer to Beal. If Wall is on his game then its not a problem but when his confidence is low then its almost like Beal's great play steps on it and makes Wall almost put his head down and give in.

[dobrojim]

IDK about that. Most pro athletes at the level of a Wall are supremely self confident.
One could almost make the counter argument that Wall will start believing he can
shoot as well as Beal and start jacking more. Nah, forget I said that.

[nuposse04]

I know it sounds kinda weird but in some ways I almost think Beal is kinda bad for Wall in terms of confidence. Wall has shown that he can get down on himself pretty easily. Obviously a guy with Beal's talents compliments Wall's game perfectly. However, I think Wall almost gets down sometimes when he is off or has a turnover while Beal is going off. I think he starts feeling a lil bit of pressure.

Like its one thing for you to be compared to guys like Irving & Rose and having them outplay you but its another thing when you are getting 80mil and some are starting to think that a 2nd year 20 yo is better then you. I think he gets down and then starts to defer to Beal. If Wall is on his game then its not a problem but when his confidence is low then its almost like Beal's great play steps on it and makes Wall almost put his head down and give in.

I think this connotes some sort of jealousy or laziness on Wall's part. I don't think Wall is the jealous type, at least not with his own teammates. I do think he can overly defer if he sees one of his teammates has it going on. He should, and i think he does, view the improved level of play of his teammates as something he needs to match. He may be pressing with his jumpshot in order to open avenues for Beal to slash through. He needs to play his game and not worry (if these hypothetical psychological issues are actually going on) about how bad he looks relative others. We've seen him dominate, I'm pretty sure we'll see at least the per 36 from wall of last season

[DCsOwn]

Beal has a ways to go to become the shooter that Ray Allen became, but last season he was already very much the shooter Allen was.

Here are pace-adjusted (to a pace of 100 possessions per 48 minutes) per-40 minute stats for Beal's rookie season vs. Allen's rookie season.

Code: Select all

STAT    Beal    Allen
Season  2012-13 1996-97
Age     19      21
Team    WAS     MIL
GMS     56      82
MPG     31.2    30.9
Usg%    20.8%   20.6%
Ortg    102     107
efg     .477    .494
2pt%    .424    .448
3pt%    .386    .393
FT%     .786    .823
Reb     5.3     5.8
Ast     3.4     3.7
Stl     1.2     1.3
Blk     0.7     0.2
Tov     2.2     2.6
PF      2.8     3.9
Pts     19.4    19.5
PPA     92      100


I'll take it a step further. I remember watching Ray Allen very early in his career at Connecticut. He had the rep of a good shooter coming into college (not an elite one) and was considered by most scouts as a better driver, shot creator than shooter. I remember reading an article where Ray said that a tremendous amount of his shooting prowess was developed at UConn and with the Bucks. I remember him saying explicitly that he turned himself into a elite shooter through unimaginable hours of work in the gym relatively late in his development (assuming you consider collegiate development late in the process). I think because people remember prime Allen shooting the lights out they just assume that he was a sensational shooter from the word go. He was really good even at UConn, but he incrementally progressed into the shooter he came to be.

I see the same progression in Beal. Beal actually had the rep of an elite shooter out of high school, but since he struggled initially with the adjustment to college ball as an 18 yr old starter in the SEC people docked him a bit. But just like when he got acclimated to the pros last season he got comfortable in the second half of the season and started shooting it really well. Fast forward to now and you see further development in Beal's array of shots. He's shooting it better off the bounce now. He's shooting it better off left or right drifts that give him more space. He looks completely locked in from range anywhere around the arc now. I think like Allen did early in his pro career, every year for the next handful of years you're going to see Beal incrementally improve in any number of shot types and locations until the point where one day it's going to be accepted that he's a legitimately great shooter.

[tontoz]

When Beal was struggling last year i looked back at his high school numbers to see where his rep as a shooter came from. I saw somewhere that he shot 75% from the field as a senior, an insane number for a wing player.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

HOF

Beal has a chance to be a HOF player, even if he doesn't have break-down, superstar, athleticism right now.

I think he's a Jimmy Neutron-type of prodigy. He's precociously tough. Beal comes from a great family. He's wise and of high character. He's a person of great faith which IMO will bode well when it comes to preparing himself to being the best of the best pros. Beal was a great draft pick up! Dude's going to blow up if he stays healthy. I think he can be HOF some day. Wizards will have to win a lot of games for that to happen.

tontoz, your post about what Beal did in the past is a harbinger IMO.

When Beal was struggling last year i looked back at his high school numbers to see where his rep as a shooter came from. I saw somewhere that he shot 75% from the field as a senior, an insane number for a wing player.

Beal's three-point shooting, at his age, along with him being a lead guard who can score as well as defend, makes me think he's going to put up insane percentages in the NBA in the future. His three is already NBA-elite, and the kid is 20 years old.

I hate to post such lofty stuff. A lot will have to go right for a long, long, long time for Beal to achieve what I think he can achieve. He's going to have to stay humble, healthy, and driven.

[nuposse04]

When Beal was struggling last year i looked back at his high school numbers to see where his rep as a shooter came from. I saw somewhere that he shot 75% from the field as a senior, an insane number for a wing player.

I don't think I could make 75 % of any fast break lay ups in a game :/

[Illmatic21]

I know it sounds kinda weird but in some ways I almost think Beal is kinda bad for Wall in terms of confidence. Wall has shown that he can get down on himself pretty easily. Obviously a guy with Beal's talents compliments Wall's game perfectly. However, I think Wall almost gets down sometimes when he is off or has a turnover while Beal is going off. I think he starts feeling a lil bit of pressure.

Like its one thing for you to be compared to guys like Irving & Rose and having them outplay you but its another thing when you are getting 80mil and some are starting to think that a 2nd year 20 yo is better then you. I think he gets down and then starts to defer to Beal. If Wall is on his game then its not a problem but when his confidence is low then its almost like Beal's great play steps on it and makes Wall almost put his head down and give in.

Yeah I don't think any of that reflects reality.. I was watching a bit they had about Wall on NBATV and they interviewed Beal and he said "Honestly, we all feed off of John's energy and when he brings it, we bring it"

The whole team/franchise is built around John Wall and everyone on the team respects that. I don't think there's any power struggle or jealously involved. Wall knows he is the clear leader now and has to lead by example, he isnt a Demarcus Cousins type who blames others instead of taking the lead.I think we will see a much more mature, consistent John Wall this season than we've seen in the past.

[dlts20]

I know it sounds kinda weird but in some ways I almost think Beal is kinda bad for Wall in terms of confidence. Wall has shown that he can get down on himself pretty easily. Obviously a guy with Beal's talents compliments Wall's game perfectly. However, I think Wall almost gets down sometimes when he is off or has a turnover while Beal is going off. I think he starts feeling a lil bit of pressure.

Like its one thing for you to be compared to guys like Irving & Rose and having them outplay you but its another thing when you are getting 80mil and some are starting to think that a 2nd year 20 yo is better then you. I think he gets down and then starts to defer to Beal. If Wall is on his game then its not a problem but when his confidence is low then its almost like Beal's great play steps on it and makes Wall almost put his head down and give in.

Yeah I don't think any of that reflects reality.. I was watching a bit they had about Wall on NBATV and they interviewed Beal and he said "Honestly, we all feed off of John's energy and when he brings it, we bring it"

The whole team/franchise is built around John Wall and everyone on the team respects that. I don't think there's any power struggle or jealously involved. Wall knows he is the clear leader now and has to lead by example, he isnt a Demarcus Cousins type who blames others instead of taking the lead.I think we will see a much more mature, consistent John Wall this season than we've seen in the past.

No, thats not what I meant at all. I dont think Wall is anything like Cousins. I also dont think Wall would ever be jealous or hate Beal. I also agree with that Beal said and I think all the fans do. Still, that doesnt mean that just because they feed off his energy when he brings it that he will always bring it.

I dont mean it like Wall is lazy or jealous. I just mean the pressure. I just mean that if Beal is looking great every single game while Wall is struggling, that he can get down on himself. All Im talking about is Wall going in the tank some and getting down on himself. Weve talked about that on here before about him dropping his head and doing things. The only thing different this time is me saying it in regards to Beal but I dont mean it like he hates when Beal does well or is jealous.

I think he tries to step up when Beal is playing well but what happens if he tries and nothing still works? Thats what I mean. I think he gets down some and not just like a normal guy wanting to play better. One problem is that 99% of the top PG's in this league are elite scorers. Wall has shown that ability also but most dont feel like you can count on him as a scorer like you can the others. Wall then seems like he tries to compete with them but when its not going good and his J isnt going in then he can hang his head, lack energy, and get down.

Someone on here talked about deffering if someone is hot but thats not what I mean. You can get the hot man the ball while still playing super aggressive or having that edge. The fact is that Im not saying this is true and all this could be bs. Its just the Preseason so I fully expect Wall to turn it up when the real bullets fly. However, if he tries to, still plays bad, while Beal is lighting it up, then I could see him starting to go in a funk & defer while feeling the pressure of everyone saying Beal is the best player on our team and that Wall's contract will kill us. Again, I dont expect any of that to happen. Beal should be All Star caliber and Wall should be MVP caliber if they play like they should

[hands11]

Highlights from last night. The crazy thing about Beal is that he went from lookiing undersized to now looking kinda lanky at times. He looks like he grew like an inch and a half since the draft. Combine that with the fact that he obviously dribbled non stop over the summer and his composure, he looks lethal. Looks like a more athletic Ray Allen with improving handles and good defense.

If Wall steps up like last year then there is no way they wouldnt be the best backcourt in the league. My only fear is that he almost played too well in the Preseason. I felt the same way about by Skins this Preseason. Felt like they were peaking at the wrong time and they could start off with duds until they get their 2nd wind. Hopefully Beal doesnt do that. I have no dbout that he would get it back at some point if he does but I want to see him start off just like he's playing now.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUJ-nQRxWz4[/youtube]

Body Control

Notice how he focused more on shielding players with his body instead of always leaping at the rim. I didn't see him on the court once after any of those moves. He didn't expose himself. Some where clean dunks. Some bunnies off the back board from 1 foot.

He exposed himself once or twice earlier in the preseason. Now he seems to be picking him spots better for when to go at the rim vs when to get close enough to shoot it under control.

That vastly improves the changes for a healthy Beal this year.

[stevemcqueen1]

Wow. He doesn't even look like the same player. He is so much better off the dribble. The Beal of last season usually looked lost in last-minute isolation possessions.

He looks like a sure fire top 5 SG within the next year or two, and may become the best SG in the league at some point. Heck, outside of Harden, I don't think there's any SG under the age of 30 who looks like he'll be better than what Beal will be in a year or so.

I think most people would agree Harden will be the best SG in the league very soon. If he isn't already.

I claimed with confidence that Beal the best SG under 23 (Harden's age) at the end of last season, just off the way he finished the year. He's looks so much better this year, he's exceeded my ambitious expectations.

I think it's now flat out obvious that he and Harden are the best young SGs in the league, and moreover, no one else is even close to them. We'll see what happens with McLemore and Oladipo, I personally don't think either are nearly as good as Beal and Harden, but that's a topic for later.

Trying to predict who will end up better between Harden and Beal is more interesting to me. Harden plays as the top scoring option and facilitator in a much faster paced system. So his volume numbers will very probably be better than Beal's. That doesn't necessarily translate to winning basketball though.

In terms of a comparison of their skill sets, we know that Harden is even bigger and is probably stronger than Beal. He'll very likely remain the more effective slasher and more creative scorer off the dribble. He's pretty top notch here. And he's probably a better passer and facilitator. Harden's ability to get to the FT line is also uncanny, I doubt Beal matches him here. But when you start looking at everything else, Beal matches or betters Harden. I think Beal ends up being a better rebounder and defender. Maybe a significantly better defender. Harden isn't really bad. But Beal could end up being an elite defender. Beal is a more explosive athlete than Harden. And though Harden is a quality shooter, he's not a true knockdown shooter. Beal's shooting ceiling is higher IMO. His ceiling is as a true knockdown guy. Harden is four years older, but IMO, they're going to end up being very close to each other in quality.

[Knighthonor]

But but but the Wizards cant develop players though....

[hands11]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOPu1bFBUaQ[/youtube]

You know, Beal is known for his shooting, but he has some dunk swag. He had some cockiness to him in college. I hope we get to see a little more of that this year with him driving. Get the team bumped up.

I think Glen has some of that dunk swag as well. I want to see some Beal and Glen together.

Wall, Beal, Glen, AH, Ves

I think AH could be nice glue for the young guns

Wall, Beal, Glen, AH, Booker

Wall, Beal, Glen, AH, Kevin

I think we have some young swag line ups to go to.

[verbal8]

But but but the Wizards cant develop players though....

Part of this is on the Wizards, but a lot of it is on the players themselves. It's not like McGee and Nick Young improved dramatically after they left the Wizards.

Blatche has been a lot better with the Nets, but the IMO the reasons are more about Blatche than the Wizards. First off he seems to be putting effort into being a good basketball player. Secondly he is in a role - back-up center - that is more suited to his ability rather than being a starting PF. His dribble may look nice for a 7 footer, but rarely leads to anything good. I haven't seen him much with the Nets, but the numbers strongly indicate he is playing a lot closer to the basket.

If you want to go back to Kwame Brown, he is a similar story to Blatche. There was a solid NBA player hiding underneath the under-performance, but there never was a superstar that failed to develop.

[nate33]

I know it sounds kinda weird but in some ways I almost think Beal is kinda bad for Wall in terms of confidence.

Nah, Beal is good for Wall. First, he'll take some offensive pressure off of Wall to make the game easier. Secondly, Beal is a very hard worker (as is Wall) and their good habits should rub off on each other.

They really are a great combination together. We just need Wall to play like March Wall from last year, only all the time.