Last postseason was a boon for Bradley Beal. During the Wizards’ handling of the Chicago Bulls in the first round and what they still feel should have been a series win against the Indiana Pacers during the Eastern Conference semifinals, Beal flashed what could be. His 17.1 points per game in the regular season was bumped to 19.2 in the playoffs. Beal shot 41.5 percent from behind the 3-point line. The performance was expected to launch Beal into this season and for him to take a more prominent place in the league.
That didn’t happen. Injuries, from his wrist to his lower right leg, stifled Beal. In large part thanks to an April binge, his field-goal percentages each slightly improved to produce career highs. But, his overall production took a step back. Beal shot 27 fewer free throws this season and just seven more than his rookie year. His points per game were down. His assists and rebounds were down. He continued to shot a lot of long 2-pointers and at a low conversion rate (37.4 percent from 10-16 feet and 33.1 percent from 16 feet to the 3-point line). The reductions were slight, but also the opposite of what most expected of the 21-year-old in his third season.
In April, a more ambitious Beal has emerged. His points per game vaulted to 19.9. More interesting is how Beal reached those totals. Beal shot 34.3 percent from behind the 3-point line during the seven games this month, well off his 40.9 percent for the season. That means Beal was converting elsewhere. His 45.2 percent field-goal percentage in the small amount of April games was a leap from his 42.7 on the season.
Friday, Beal seemed on edge in the itchy, more assertive way he has been for the month. At first, he put forth a generic explanation of how he felt with the playoffs finally about to start.
“I feel ready to go,” Beal said. “Probably a little bit more anxious than I was last year. And I’m excited, man. This is a big year for us. I can feel it. I think we’re going to be pretty good.”
Asked to elaborate on his anxiousness, Beal smiled and presented a cocksure tone veteran Paul Pierce had recently wondered if Beal — and others on the Wizards — possessed.
“It means I’m going to play well,” Beal said. “That simple.”
Wall, meanwhile, will be entering the series with a large amount of rest in his pocket. He bounced around the Verizon Center practice court Friday afternoon, talking smack to Rasual Butler as he made 3-pointers.
The Wizards’ lone all-star played 79 games this season and led the team in minutes. He dealt with ankles injuries and the traditional dings that come with an NBA season. On April 4, he played 36 minutes against the Memphis Grizzlies. Since, he’s played 79 minutes, taking three games off.
“Physically, I feel better, a little bit,” Wall said when compared to last season. “I stayed in shape and lifted more to try to get my body prepared for it. Mentally I’m perfectly fine. I’m excited to be back for my second year. It’s fun. I learned a lot last year — how to close out games and how to play better and do those type of things. And now just got to let your game do the talking.”
Beal and Wall remain the Wizards’ engine, the whole thing this season and the future hangs on. Each say they are in a good place when heading on the road to deal with a Raptors team that went 3-0 against the Wizards this season. All that’s left now is to prove it.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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