Washington Wizards: 4 takeaways from the 113-107 season-opening loss to the Philadelphia 76ers

Bradley Beal’s New Role

When Russell Westbrook arrived in D.C., he told the media that he wanted to make Bradley Beal’s life “easier.” With Beal dropping 31 points on 50 percent shooting from the field against Philly, it’s safe to say Beal had a much easier go-around on Wednesday than he’s had on the basketball court in recent memory. With Westbrook in play, the 76ers’ defense wasn’t able to swarm Beal with double and triple teams, which became the norm during the 2019-20 season for Beal. Beal’s new freedom not only generated more high-percentage looks for the 27-year old superstar but also allowed Beal to exert more energy on the defensive end. As impressive as Beal looked from an offensive standpoint, his four steals and high-intensity effort on the defensive end was far more impressive, and a promising sign for the Washington Wizards. Statistically, Beal was one of the most prolific scorers last year, but also one of the biggest liabilities on defense. It was a weird shift for a guy who had been an above-average defender up until that point. Hopefully last season’s struggles were a one-year blip. Beal looks to be more motivated on the defensive end now that his offensive load has been lightened.