Circle Friday, Nov. 21 on your calendar.
That evening, the Washington Wizards and the Cleveland Cavaliers will play for the first time this season. And both teams’ backcourts will attempt to back up bold words that they’ve exchanged over the past two days.
At Wizards media day on Monday, Bradley Beal declared that he and John Wall formed the top guard duo in the NBA.
“I think we’re definitely the best backcourt in the league,” Beal said. “Just in terms of what we’re capable of doing, the confidence that we have in that. At the same time we got to prove it.”
Cleveland shooting guard Dion Waiters disagreed.
“That’s nonsense,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
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Hours later, Wall defended Beal after practice.
“[The Cavaliers] haven’t seen a playoff game yet, so when they make one, they can start talking,” Wall said.
Wall proceeded take a dig at the fact that Waiters, who shares a backcourt with Kyrie Irving, only started 24 of the 70 games he played in last season.
“If you’re going to be the best backcourt, you have to start,” Wall said. “This is the year [Waiters is] probably starting, so let’s see if they’re the best backcourt.”
Wall and Beal combined for 36.4 points and 12.1 assists per game during the 2013-2014 regular season. Irving and Waiters combined for 36.7 points and 9.1 assists per game en route to a 33-49 season.
• David Daniels can be reached at ddaniels@washingtontimes.com.
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