Fansided

NBA: Top 5 Backcourts So Far in 2014

By Daniel Tran

November 1, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) high-fives guard Klay Thompson (11) during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 127-104. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 1, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) high-fives guard Klay Thompson (11) during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 127-104. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
NBA
Nov 29, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) talks to Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) against the New Orleans Pelicans in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 83-80. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Washington Wizards – John Wall and Bradley Beal

The Washington Wizards are first in the Southeast Division and the second best team in the Eastern Conference mostly on the backs of their flash and dash backcourt.

In the beginning of the 2012 season, Wall lost backcourt running mates Nick Young and Jordan Crawford to free agency. Many experts wondered if he would ever reach his potential after expert player developer/former head coach Flip Saunders failed to get the best out him. Turns out, all he needed was a little Beal in his life.

Live Feed

Washington Wizards should sign this former first-round pick to a two-way contract
Washington Wizards should sign this former first-round pick to a two-way contract /

Wiz of Awes

  • Washington Wizards: Kyle Kuzma should play minutes at center Wiz of Awes
  • Chasing a Ghost: Outlining Chris Paul's illustrious, yet empty, NBA career Sir Charles In Charge
  • 3 centers the Washington Wizards should target to fill their frontcourt need Wiz of Awes
  • Washington Wizards should bring back this 20 points-per-game scorer Wiz of Awes
  • Washington Wizards sign high-upside guard Jared Butler to a two-way contract Wiz of Awes

    • Beal was young, but he brought a scoring touch from the perimeter that the Wizards desperately needed and has improved every year since Washington drafted him. With Wall mastering the point guard position and Beal continuing to develop into a lights out scorer, the Wizards are ready to reach new heights in 2014.

    Wall is having a career year running the point, averaging 17.8 points on a career-best 44.8 field goal percentage and leading the league with 10.6 assists per game. Even before his newfound offensive improvement, Wall was a great defender and continues to show that in 2014, tied for the league lead in steals at 2.2 per game and a defensive rating of 99 estimated points allowed per 100 possessions.

    Walls efficiency can be attributed to Beal’s improvement, as he enhanced his shooting numbers by converting a career-high 47.5 percent from three-point range which ranks fifth in the league and scoring 15.1 points per game. Beal’s contribution is not solely from scoring, showing he can be a playmaker working off the ball, averaging 3.3 assists a game and helping Wall get easier looks.

    With Wall and Beal coming together and developing an unstoppable combo, the Washington Wizards have a bright future competing in the Eastern Conference.

    Next: The Big Guns of the New West

    Home/NBA