[original photo via nba.com/wizards - Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty Images]

“He don’t have no pressure, he’s not the savior. He’s a beast under pressure. But he don’t have no pressure. We want Bradley Beal to come in and be Bradley Beal. We’re not telling him to come on and lead us into the playoffs. We want him to come in and make some jump shots, play some solid defense… go from there.”
—Sam Cassell, July 2012 Summer League

Cassell’s statement diffuses expectations, but it’s true. Bradley Beal is just a piece. The Washington Wizards now have several nice pieces, but none of them are saviors. Not even John Wall.

Wall is the face of the franchise — every team needs a face — and maybe Beal’s face will shine next to Wall’s on the top billing one day. But the Wizards don’t have a star. Not a single All-Star on the roster. Not yet.

Read more »

Kobe and Nash will make a great duo. That’s what the numbers say anyway.

Nash had the highest assist percentage in the NBA (53.1) and made the most passes to spot-up shooters (389) in the pick-and-roll last season. More often than not, 62 percent of the time, Nash passed the rock in the two-man game, and his Phoenix Suns teammates shot 51 percent on those passes.

“With Nash taking over primary ballhandling duties and Kobe handling the ball less, expect the Lakers to get more open shots and shoot the ball at a higher percentage, including Kobe,” wrote Ryan Feldman and Rachel Eldridge of ESPN Stats & Info. “Kobe doesn’t get open very often, but when he does he’s a highly efficient shooter. If Nash is able to get open shots for Kobe, expect the Lakers to be a strong contender.”

Read more »

With the above tweet, Bradley Beal committed his first act of social media as member of the Washington Wizards. And social media reacted: Wizards fans, members of the Florida Gators basketball community, Beal’s family, and his new Wizards teammates — all more than happy with the outcome.

“Few of the guys have already reached out to me, so I’m starting to develop a relationship with the guys already,” Beal revealed at his press conference in Washington D.C. ”Trevor Booker texted me. I talked to John last night. Chris Singleton texted me saying ‘FSU’, I told him like ‘no way.’  Trevor Ariza texted me as well. All these guys have reached out to me and I am glad that they all have did that. It shows me that they care, and they are ready to get going.”

To the Tweets…

Wizards Teammates:

Read more »

Besta Beal witnessed her son Bradley reach his NBA dreams last Thursday evening in Newark, New Jersey. She saw him walk across the stage after being selected third overall in the draft by the Washington Wizards and shake David Stern’s hand. It was official.

Mama Beal beamed proudly at the sight, but was able to keep her emotions in check on her son’s big birthday night. That is until Bradley was welcomed to Washington, D.C. at a press conference the next day. Then, the tears of joy rolled out.

“I wanted to cry (at the draft), but I didn’t feel it. Until we sat down, saw him front all of you (the media), it all came out,” she said.

Read more »