Bradley Beal - Part III

[stevemcqueen1]

Both Beal and Porter are making it next year.

[nate33]

Bradley Beal might be hitting a new plateau. He has been on a tear ever since the All-Star roster was named and he was left off. In the last 12 games, he has averaged:

25.8 points
3.8 boards
3.2 assists
1.2 steals
2.4 turnovers
.565 FG%
.440 3P%
.680 TS%

That's legit, Ray Allen level of production. His D has been much better lately as well.

[payitforward]

It's true, he's looking great out there. It's a pleasure to watch him play the game.

[nate33]

This may have been Beal's best game of the season. So many of his points were generated by himself off the bounce, rather than him merely being the beneficiary of catch-and-shoot opportunities. Heck, he didn't even shoot all that well from the perimeter (3-6 from midrange, 2-8 from 3PT range) but still scored 40 on 15-25 shooting.

Watch on YouTube

He has become so crafty with his hesitation move off the dribble. And I really loved that alley-oop play. The defender was so worried about Beal cutting off a screen to take a three that he was out of position to defend a simple lob pass at the rim. I wonder if we'll see a little more of that.

It's games like this that get me real excited about Beal's ultimate upside. He is starting to develop the "gravity" of a guy like Stephen Curry. When teams are so worried about what Beal is doing off the ball, it makes it real easy to run simple pick-and-roll plays with Gortat, or lob plays to Morris. It's almost like Beal deserves an assist on some plays when he doesn't even touch the ball.

[Wizardspride]

Bradley Beal might be hitting a new plateau. He has been on a tear ever since the All-Star roster was named and he was left off. In the last 12 games, he has averaged:

25.8 points
3.8 boards
3.2 assists
1.2 steals
2.4 turnovers
.565 FG%
.440 3P%
.680 TS%

That's legit, Ray Allen level of production. His D has been much better lately as well.

Yep. Bradley has come a long way.

It's funny but other than a mega super star, I can't think of a single player I'd trade him for.

[tontoz]

I saw Beal do something yesterday that I have never seen him do. He closed out on a baseline shooter and after the shot was away Beal actually boxed him out......

then the ball did bounce toward him a bit but Gobert got it anyway and Beal fouled him.

Still good to see though.

[SizzlinSimms]

Beal's game is so silky smooth. He's by far our best scoring option. Some of those step backs tonight were great.

[DCZards]

Beal's game is so silky smooth. He's by far our best scoring option. Some of those step backs tonight were great.

I almost can't believe how much better Beal is offensively this year. I've been in the tank for Beal since the day he was drafted...but I didn't see this coming. At least not this quickly. BB has worked hard on his overall game and it shows. Kid is earning that big payday he just got.

[SizzlinSimms]

His offensive game has so improved from the catch and shoot. His dribbling and create a shot has improved so much.

[Shanghai Kid]

To me we are getting to a point now where Beal should be established as our #1 option. Wall is still our best player and runs the offense, but similar to Lowry/Derozan it's just obvious that one player is a clearly better scorer and should be taking more shots.

[Illmatic12]

I think Brad will eventually be a 24-25ppg scorer (only thing holding him back now is he hasn't fully developed his strength yet) .. and John will hopefully take a bit of step back scoring-wise and allow Beal to be the #1 option

[nate33]

To me we are getting to a point now where Beal should be established as our #1 option. Wall is still our best player and runs the offense, but similar to Lowry/Derozan it's just obvious that one player is a clearly better scorer and should be taking more shots.

Beal is getting pretty damn close to being our best player too. He has taken it to a new level since mid January, starting with the Boston game. Over the past 17 games, he has averaged 25.8 points with an ORtg of 125 and a TS% of .667. And he's doing it without relying on being absurdly hot from 3-point range. His 3P% over that stretch is within his career norms: .425. He has figured out how to get his shot off and how to get to the rim, and he's doing it against the opposition's best defender every night.

Heck, if 17 games is too small of a sample size for you, you can go all the way back to January 1st. Since January 1st (29 games), Beal is averaging 23.9 points with an ORtg of 118 and a TS% of .628. That's a bit better than what Gilbert Arenas did on a per minute basis. (Arenas played 40-42 minutes per game so his per game averages are slightly higher.)

One indication that this is the new normal rather than merely a hot streak is that his 2P% is 59% since January 1st . You don't shoot 59% for 30 games with good midrange shooting. You do it by getting to the rim and finishing. And that's sustainable.

[Kanyewest]

In the last 11 games Beal is averaging 27.5 ppg.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bealbr01/gamelog/2017/#294-304-sum:pgl_basic

[nate33]

Seriously, how many players would you trade Beal straight up for, factoring age and contract, but ignoring fit? Can you name 20?

Would definitely trade Beal for:
Anthony Davis
James Harden
Kawhi Leonard
Kevin Durant
Giannis Antetotoumpko
Russell Westbrook
Karl Anthony-Towns
Rudy Gobert
Nikola Jokic

Would consider trading Beal for:
Stephen Curry
Jimmy Butler
John Wall
Kyrie Irving
Draymond Green
Joel Embiid

Anybody else?
Cousins?
Paul George?
Blake Griffin?

I don't think I'd do any of these after factoring age and attitude.

[Kanyewest]

^^ LeBron James

I suppose I would add Porzingis, Wiggins and Myles Turner to the consider category just because of their age although Beal is better than all of those guys right now. Other guys to consider may be Lillard, Thomas, Bledsoe, McCollum, and Isiah Thomas although as a Wizards fan I would prefer Beal. Embiid is injury prone so I would not trade for him. BTW, Paul George is younger than Butler.

[Upper Decker]

come on Nate33, Brad Beal didn't even make the A.S. team this year. Melo is clearly better and we should def trade beal for him. Just ask Adam Silver.

[nate33]

^^ LeBron James

I suppose I would add Porzingis, Wiggins and Myles Turner to the consider category just because of their age although Beal is better than all of those guys right now. Other guys to consider may be Lillard, Thomas, Bledsoe, McCollum, and Isiah Thomas although as a Wizards fan I would prefer Beal. Embiid is injury prone so I would not trade for him. BTW, Paul George is younger than Butler.

Lebron is 32 though. Do you give up a whole decade for a 2-year window? I suppose there's an argument for it. Lebron really could bring a championship here right away. Okay, I'll grant Lebron.

I considered Porzingis, Wiggins and Turner but declined to put any of them in the "would consider" list. I suppose Porzingis should be revisited though. He probably belongs on the list.

Embiid would make the no-brainer category if he was healthy. But the injury issue makes it a tough one.

Beal is better and younger than Lillard and McCollum. He is as good as Bledsoe but 4 years younger. He's not better than Thomas, but Thomas is 28 and short guys usually decline quickly as soon as they surpass their peak. I suppose Thomas gets an argument due to his contract, but that condition will exist for only one more year, at which point he might sign a massive contract just as he declines. I think Beal's long term contract situation is better.

I realize George is younger than Butler, but I think Butler is much better.

[nate33]

come on Nate33, Brad Beal didn't even make the A.S. team this year. Melo is clearly better and we should def trade beal for him. Just ask Adam Silver.

Don't even joke about this stuff. EG might catch wind of it.

[80sballboy]

Seriously, how many players would you trade Beal straight up for, factoring age and contract, but ignoring fit? Can you name 20?

Would definitely trade Beal for:
Antonio Davis
James Harden
Kawhi Leonard
Kevin Durant
Giannis Antetotoumpko
Russell Westbrook
Karl Anthony-Towns
Rudy Gobert
Nikola Jokic

Would consider trading Beal for:
Stephen Curry
Jimmy Butler
John Wall
Kyrie Irving
Draymond Green
Joel Embiid

Anybody else?
Cousins?
Paul George?
Blake Griffin?

I don't think I'd do any of these after factoring age and attitude.

I'm not sure I'd trade Beal for Antonio Davis, but yes for Anthony. And probably wouldn't trade him for John Wall.

Blake is a pending FA and is becoming injury-prone. I do like Paul George and don't like Cousins, no matter what crazy stats he puts up.

[NatP4]

Klay Thompson?