mohammed10 wrote:OK, just finished watching DVR of the game. I hate to ask this question (it seriously KILLS ME to even think about it), but when can we all start freaking out about Beal’s awful play over the last few weeks?
He’s morphing into a high volume, inefficient chucker right before our eyes…and normally I’d say it’s no big deal, and that it can be corrected since he’s young, but we all know Witless isn’t going to change the way he’s going to be used. That would be like, making an adjustment, or something. Randy just doesn’t do that.
I remember last year, Beal never ran the 2 man, awful hand off game. He just curled around screens, caught and shot, and made open 3s. Last year, when that was his role, some were beginning to question whether Beal might ACTUALLY BE BETTER THAN JOHN WALL.
Fast forward to now: He looks awful of late, and really, it’s because of the plays we’re running for him, or rather, the lack of plays that suit is style of play. Randy has to notice it, right? Or does he just brush it off and SERIOUSLY think things like “meh, it’s a shooter’s slump, no problem, he’ll be fine.”…..?
Thoughts?
My official stance is, I'll start freaking out if Beal is still doing this next season. For someone who is supposed to be a high IQ player, and you assume he will step back and critique his game in the offseason, work with trainers, coaches, etc (and he will also be around great basketball minds and talents at Team USA this summer).. for him to come in next year and continue playing the same way, that would be inexcusable.
Right now, he is only 20 and this is his first year in the NBA ever facing this kind of defensive attention. This is when he's first realizing what level he needs to play at every night, and how mentally locked in he needs to be. Looking back, our expectations were probably too high to think a 20-year old kid in his second year would do well as the #2 option on a playoff team. I mean how often does that happen really? I know he was the 3rd pick but it's not like he was touted to be an All-Star right away.. we picked him for his potential down the line.
Klay Thompson was a junior at Washington St when he was 20. Derozan was a rookie averaging 8ppg. Imagine how either of those guys would have looked in Beal's current situation, while being coached by Wittman? It would have been ugly.. in fact, they likely wouldn't have started over Webster. Thompson/Derozan aren't HOFers or anything, but they're ~top 5 at their position. If Beal turns out to be better than those guys, we'll be very glad we have him. Especially in a league where the SG position is so weak, it's a luxury to know that your starting backcourt can win their individual matchups most nights.
Edit: And I think it goes without saying, if Wittman is rehired we will all be pressing the panic button on not just Beal but this entire team's future.
