Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal Is In Playoff Mode

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal has always played better in the NBA Playoffs. This season, he’s entered that zone before the playoffs even began.

At 21 years old, the Washington Wizards got a glimpse of the player Bradley Beal could become in a situation when most young talent would crumble under pressure.

Behind the tutelage of Paul Pierce, Beal elevated his game to another level in the 2015 NBA Playoffs, averaging over 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game. His chemistry alongside John Wall developed as the team swept Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, who are widely considered the best backcourt in the East, in four games.

This season, the Wizards have seen that level of play from Beal for 77 games – a career-high for Beal, who’s infamously dealt with injuries since arriving to the nation’s capital in 2012.

Beal’s numbers this season are mirrored by his second stint in the postseason, except he’s upped his field goal percentage to over 48 percent.

A summer dedicated to improved ball handling has propelled Beal among the league’s elite scorers, and despite not technically being named an All-Star, his game has spoken for itself.

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After the All-Star break, Beal’s averaged 25 points per game, which is 6 points more than what Carmelo Anthony has put up in losing efforts.

On Monday night against the Detroit Pistons, Beal, once again, lifted the Wizards to victory with his scoring and did so without the help of Wall, who sat out with a minor injury to rest before the start of the playoffs.

In Wall’s absence, Beal took command of the Wizards’ offense by initiating off-ball movement and forcing defenders to guard on their heels.

If he knocked down a shot from deep, Beal mixed it up by taking his defender off the dribble.

But against the Pistons, in their final game at the Palace, Beal added some ferocity to the fluidity.

He attacked the basket with an intent to dunk virtually every time he drove inside.

In the fourth quarter, with the Pistons gaining ground on the Wizards, Beal threw down his most impressive dunk of the season in traffic.

For 33 minutes, Beal carved the Pistons’ defense, often relying on an arsenal of moves that reflect the confidence he exudes on the biggest stages.

The game was televised nationally on TNT and, given the circumstances, the Palace was sold out. Instead of accepting his limited minutes and resting for the postseason, Beal treated the game like it was being played in the playoffs, scoring 33 points and leading the Wizards to their 49th win of the season.

Next: Why the Wizards Could Get To the NBA Finals

Players, especially guards, that somehow become better in the playoffs are rare. On Monday, the Wizards got a sneak peek of the Beal they’ll most likely get when it matters most.