Bradley Beal - Part II

[TheSecretWeapon]

Yeah, players deserve whatever they can get. Remember, salaries would be even higher under the old CBA. It's amazing to me how many buy what the owners were selling -- namely that they couldn't make a profit because player salaries were too high. Just total nonsense. The players were capped league-wide at a fixed percentage of basketball related income (BRI). The players even paid into an escrow fund to guarantee their salaries wouldn't get out of control.

And, the BRI definition is antiquated. It hasn't been updated since the 90s, so the owners (due to the latest CBA) are paying players a smaller percentage of only some of league revenue.

AND, keep in mind that the owners knew when they were crying the fiscal blues that they were negotiating with networks for a more lucrative TV deal. They knew league revenues were about rise sharply. Yeesh.

[TheSecretWeapon]

By the way, Beal rated in my stuff as a significantly better prospect than Barnes, and he may one day be the better player, but not last season. WAY more efficient on offense, and rated a bit ahead of Beal on defense. Overall, I had Barnes rated solidly above average (PPA: 132) and Beal right at the league average (PPA: 99).

They sorta reversed positions in the playoffs. Barnes had a PPA of 111 to Beal's 134.

Playoffs and regular season combined, it's Barnes 127 to Beal's 105.

If I weight the playoffs double, it's 123 for Barnes and 109 for Beal last season.

If folks want to claim that Barnes isn't much better than Beal at this point, I wouldn't argue. I think it would be difficult to support the idea that Beal is better, though. At least not to this point in their careers.

[Illmatic12]

I'm not even sure I'd take Barnes over Otto.. much less Beal.

Playing on that stacked GSW team makes Barnes look better/more efficient than he'd be in normal circumstances. He can't create for himself on offense, nor can he pass or dribble at all. He shot well from three last year, but the majority of his shots were wide open looks from the corner, created by GSWs superior spacing + ball movement.

Barnes has been overhyped for like 7 years now, starting when he was in HS. Still waiting to see what the hype is all about

[nate33]

I'm not even sure I'd take Barnes over Otto.. much less Beal.

Playing on that stacked GSW team makes Barnes look better/more efficient than he'd be in normal circumstances. He can't create for himself on offense, nor can he pass or dribble at all. He shot well from three last year, but the majority of his shots were wide open looks from the corner, created by GSWs superior spacing + ball movement.

Barnes has been overhyped for like 7 years now, starting when he was in HS. Still waiting to see what the hype is all about

I agree that Barnes is a mediocre offensive player who benefits from great teammates drawing defensive attention. But I will say that Barnes' versatility on defense is a huge plus in his favor. His ability to slide over to PF and hold his own against guys like Zach Randolph really adds flexibility to Golden State's system.

[TheSecretWeapon]

I'm not even sure I'd take Barnes over Otto.. much less Beal.

Playing on that stacked GSW team makes Barnes look better/more efficient than he'd be in normal circumstances. He can't create for himself on offense, nor can he pass or dribble at all. He shot well from three last year, but the majority of his shots were wide open looks from the corner, created by GSWs superior spacing + ball movement.

Barnes has been overhyped for like 7 years now, starting when he was in HS. Still waiting to see what the hype is all about

I agree with a lot of what you're saying -- Barnes being overhyped. I even agree about him having the limitations you identify. However, he rebounded well for his position -- about a rebound more per 100 team possessions than Lebron, for example. And, while he "only" filled a role, he filled it superbly. Among SGs and SFs with at least 1,000 minutes last season, he was 15th in 2pt%, 14th in 3pt percentage, which was good for 15th in efg. He didn't get many assists, but he also didn't commit many turnovers.

Last season, he was responsible for 7.3 zero-point possessions per 100 team possessions -- 4th fewest among SGs & SFs with at least 1,000 total minutes. Beal was at 12.4. (Zero point possessions -- missed shots that aren't rebounded by the offense, half of missed free throws, and turnovers.)

I hear what you're saying about him, but last season at least, he was an example of how productive and valuable players can be if they focus on their role and play smart. That's what Barnes did, and he really helped GSW.

[tontoz]

Barnes lack of negative plays is certainly a legit point. I think many here like to ignore the bad plays that Wall/Beal make.

Still I'd take Beal over Barnes. On a normal team I think Barnes' glaring weaknesses get exposed. I also think that comparing his rebounding numbers to that of other wings is a bit misleading due to him spending time at the 4.

[DCZards]

I kinda expect Wall and Beal to make more mistakes than Barnes given that they have considerably bigger roles and more responsibilities with the Zards than Barnes has with the Warriors.

[gambitx777]

Oh lord I hope and pray that beal is on board with the KD plan........if not and he signs an offer before KD signs on........... we are ****.

[TheSecretWeapon]

I kinda expect Wall and Beal to make more mistakes than Barnes given that they have considerably bigger roles and more responsibilities with the Zards than Barnes has with the Warriors.

This could be. Barnes has been a fairly low usage player throughout his career -- his highest usage level was 16.6% as a rookie. It dropped slightly to 15.8% in his 2nd season, and to 14.1% this past season. The usage drop is modest, though, and doesn't really explain the major uptick in efficiency. This past season, Barnes' improvement was shooting better and getting more rebounds. The rest of his numbers were about the same as previous years.

Interestingly, the change in his shooting seems at least in part related to a change in shot selection. Specifically, he took fewer 2pt jumpers. Nearly 64% of his FGA were at-rim or from 3pt range.

Interesting.

[tontoz]

I kinda expect Wall and Beal to make more mistakes than Barnes given that they have considerably bigger roles and more responsibilities with the Zards than Barnes has with the Warriors.

This could be. Barnes has been a fairly low usage player throughout his career -- his highest usage level was 16.6% as a rookie. It dropped slightly to 15.8% in his 2nd season, and to 14.1% this past season. The usage drop is modest, though, and doesn't really explain the major uptick in efficiency. This past season, Barnes' improvement was shooting better and getting more rebounds. The rest of his numbers were about the same as previous years.

Interestingly, the change in his shooting seems at least in part related to a change in shot selection. Specifically, he took fewer 2pt jumpers. Nearly 64% of his FGA were at-rim or from 3pt range.

Interesting.

Kerr may have had something to do with that.

I remember reading about his preparation for the job. JVG advised him to start writing things down so whenever Kerr came across a play he liked he would write it down. Over time he had a lot of plays and put together a power point presentation which helped him land the job.

After getting the job he personally visited the players and outlined how he planned to use them before training camp started. The previous season Barnes was coming off the bench and was being asked to create on his own. Kerr told him he would be better playing off the starters. Of course he had to convince Iggy to come off the bench.

Pretty impressive job from a guy with no coaching experience.

[Slava]

Looks like he's been working out in LA.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9EjSTm-uHM[/youtube]

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

With Jordan Clarkson, a player drafted by Washington.


"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin,"
"Be the change you want to be."

[dangermouse]

That first bucket was Hardenesque

[nate33]

Oh lord I hope and pray that beal is on board with the KD plan........if not and he signs an offer before KD signs on........... we are ****.

Why wouldn't he be? He gets the same money either way. But if he waits until KD signs here, he gets to play with KD.

The only way Beal would screw up the KD plan is if he has reason to believe that there is only one team out there willing to pay him the max, and that team puts the offer on the table on the first day of free agency and tells Beal that he's got to sign the contract today or the offer will be rescinded.

I see no way that that scenario plays out. There will be too many teams with cap room.

[nate33]

That first bucket was Hardenesque

Yeah. I liked both dribble drive moves from Beal. I also liked that the only way Clarkson could score on Beal was by step-back jumpers.

[Wizardspride]

http://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/9/24/9391545/bradley-beal-midrange-long-twos-threes-analytics-washington-wizards

Rejoice! Bradley Beal says he wants to "eliminate long twos" this season.

Bleacher Report's Josh Martin has been following Bradley Beal this summer as he trains with Drew Hanlen and prepares for the most important season of his career as he tries to show he deserves a max deal. In the piece, Beal drops the most encouraging quote of the season:

In Beal's case, Hanlen zeroed in on three weak spots for his first client to strengthen this summer: finishing at the rim, drawing fouls and sharpening his shot selection. The two of them agreed to focus on those areas, without input from the Wizards.

"I have to do as much as I can as best as I can to eliminate those long twos and get to the basket, get to the free-throw line," Beal said. "Those are just easy points."

[dobrojim]

I hope he includes considerable time working on FTs. While his percentage isn't horrible
by overall NBA standards, for a SG who is supposed to be a great shooter, it could be
4-6 points higher.

[tontoz]

http://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/9/24/9391545/bradley-beal-midrange-long-twos-threes-analytics-washington-wizards

Rejoice! Bradley Beal says he wants to "eliminate long twos" this season.

Bleacher Report's Josh Martin has been following Bradley Beal this summer as he trains with Drew Hanlen and prepares for the most important season of his career as he tries to show he deserves a max deal. In the piece, Beal drops the most encouraging quote of the season:

In Beal's case, Hanlen zeroed in on three weak spots for his first client to strengthen this summer: finishing at the rim, drawing fouls and sharpening his shot selection. The two of them agreed to focus on those areas, without input from the Wizards.

"I have to do as much as I can as best as I can to eliminate those long twos and get to the basket, get to the free-throw line," Beal said. "Those are just easy points."

*pinches self* ..... *reads again*.......*pinches self again*.......

[Illmatic12]

I hope he includes considerable time working on FTs. While his percentage isn't horrible
by overall NBA standards, for a SG who is supposed to be a great shooter, it could be
4-6 points higher.

Beal talks about it in this video. Said he needs to focus more and is working to get his FT% up to an elite lvel:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP1w76MT9rQ[/youtube]

[Ruzious]

Sounds like our boy's BBIQ is growing up.