We’re just two weeks away from the start of training camp! It’s time to continue the countdown with part-3 of our series on what needs to occur for the Washington Wizards to make the NBA Finals. To quickly recap, Step 1 focused on improving the offense and Step 2 focused on protecting homecourt. Step-3 takes us to the backcourt. John Wall and Bradley Beal must continue to grow and develop their game.
The backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal is predominantly in the discussion when people look at the best young backcourts in the NBA. On an individual basis, however, there are leaps that each player can still take in their evolution. John Wall has established himself as an NBA All-Star. You can easily argue based on his 2012-2013 season that had he been healthy to start that season he would have been making his second All-Star appearance this past season.
Bradley Beal, while looked at as an up and coming star in league circles, still has plenty of room for growth and is coming off an up and down sophomore season. His regular season in fact was just pretty good, but when you factor in his age and how he finished the season and run in the NBA Playoffs, you could see why people are so optimistic. So, how much growth is there left for each? At age 24 and 21 respectively, it would be foolish to say they are what they are at this point.
John Wall was a somewhat close third to Goran Dragic and Damian Lillard for 3rd team All-NBA this past season, so it’s not as though he already isn’t considered in the upper echelon at his position in the NBA. However, he could still take a leap and put himself right in the middle of the All-NBA conversation and into the discussion for best point guard in the NBA. Is it doable? I think so, and it’s based on what I have harped on numerous occasions–Wall’s end of season 2012-2013 play.
He was playing at a true elite level at that point, averaging 22.7 points per game, 7.8 assists per game, and 4.8 rebounds per game, on 17.3 field goal attempts per game over the last 26 games of the season. Additionally, he shot 46.5% from the floor during that stretch and managed to get to the free at a clip of 7.7 attempts per game. Here’s how that compares to some of the other elite point guards in the NBA.
*2012-2013 stats used for Russell Westbrook since he was hurt for a large portion of last season
If John Wall could carry that level of play for 82 games he would rank 3rd on this list in points, 3rd in assists, 2nd in rebounds, 5th in FG%, and 1st in FTA. That level of play over the course of a full 82 game season would catapult John Wall and put him in All-NBA/ fringe MVP discussion.
John Wall started off the 2013-2014 season in a similar fashion, but his play tapered off a bit as the season wore on. He was not getting to the free throw line as often and was not as aggressive on the offensive side of the ball as he was to start the season. It’s frankly understandable considering he had not played a full 82 game season before on a team that was playing meaningful basketball in March and April. That being said, if he wants to make the leap from good to great, he has to bring it nightly over 82 games. That’s what the great ones do.
For Bradley Beal to make a leap he has to capitalize on his strong finish to last season with an All-Star caliber season. Beal’s overall numbers last year were nothing to shout off the rooftops for, but his end of season run is a different story. Over his last 9 regular season games and 11 playoff games, Bradley Beal averaged 19.3 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, and 4 assists per game on 47.2% shooting from the field.
His game flourished when it mattered most, especially in the playoffs against two of the elite defense teams in the NBA, routinely being covered by Jimmy Butler and Paul George. If he can carry the momentum from the end of last season into the regular season, he is bound to make a leap towards becoming an All-Star caliber player.
At age 21, it may be asking for too much too soon, but if you’re setting the goal for the NBA Finals it will require a special performance from someone! Is Bradley Beal capable of making two leaps and jumping to All-NBA consideration in just his third season in the league? Dwyane Wade is a best recent example of a player who was able to accomplish a similar feat. In his second season in the NBA at age 22 (turned 23 midseason) Dwyane Wade was named to the 2nd team All-NBA team. In that season, the Miami Heat advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. In his third season in the NBA, his age 23/24 season, he was able to carry the Miami Heat to the Finals, winning in 6 games over the Dallas Mavericks. It’s been done in the past, but with Dwyane Wade we’re talking about a future Hall of Fame player. Does Bradley Beal have that type of ability? The jury is still out, but the comparisons to Hall of Famers Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen have been out there since he’s been drafted.
Why am I putting the progression of the team on John Wall and Bradley Beal? The frontcourt is what it is. They’re seasoned vets of the NBA who may provide somewhat of an improvement based on utilization and opportunity, but for the most part you’re not going to see a quantum growth from Marcin Gortat, Nene, Kris Humphries, or DeJuan Blair.
I also didn’t include Otto Porter and Glen Rice, because while I think they will provide a boost to this team, its difficult to imagine either being the impetus to an NBA Finals run.
This team is built around the backcourt and it’s the untapped potential that will be one of the driving forces for the Washington Wizards to make the NBA Finals.