After initially straining his hamstring just under two weeks ago, Wizards All-Star guard Bradley Beal braced himself to play through the injury in this week’s play-in tournament, writes David Aldridge of The Athletic.
“I’m a strider,” Beal said on Monday, in advance of the Wizards’ eventual 118-100 blowout play-in loss to the Celtics yesterday. “It restricts a lot of my movements, for sure. But when you’re … on the court you find ways to manage it. You’re in control of a lot of stuff. The reactionary stuff, you’re not, especially like on defense and things like that. But the things you can’t control, you try not to put yourself in harm’s way.”
The Wizards will play the Pacers tomorrow for the No. 8 seed in the East.
There’s more out of the Southeast:
- Hawks power forward John Collins, a restricted free agent this summer, can help secure himself a huge payday with a strong performance against Knicks All-Star Julius Randle in Atlanta’s first-round matchup, writes Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Collins has stepped up in a crucial season, proving his mettle on both sides of the ball, though Cunningham notes that the stretch four can still afford to develop as a ball-handler. “If I know one thing, I am going to watch a lot of (game) film, get my body ready and I’m going to be laser-focused,” Collins said of his preparation for the upcoming series. “I don’t necessarily think I have anything to prove, but I’m coming to compete.”
- Candace Buckner of the Washington Post asserts that, in order to win their second play-in game and qualify for the first round of the NBA playoffs, the Wizards will need to get more offense from power forward Davis Bertans, who is in the first year of a costly $80MM deal he signed during the 2020 offseason.
- Magic team president Jeff Weltman discussed Orlando’s offseason roster-building plans ahead with a loaded NBA draft looming, writes Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel. Weltman alluded to prioritizing the best player available over fit with the current young roster ahead of the draft, in which the Magic could very well have two lottery picks. “The draft is about talent,” Weltman said. “You always ask ‘fit or best talent.’ We’re in a great position right now. We’re not going to have 15 players 23 and under. We’ll add some vets to help us grow. We don’t even know if we’ll have one or two (lottery) picks yet.”
Bertans is looking even worse than Ryan Anderson did four years ago. Poor Wizards.
Never…
If Bertans played forbsomebody like the Lakers with LeBron or with a passer like Giannis or Joker he would be averaging 15 ppg on 45% 3pt shooting.
Sure he would. Anderson averaged 13.6 PPG and shot just over 40% from three on a team that went 55-27 in 2017. Bertans averaged 11.5 PPG this season making 39.5% of his threes. After the Rockets dumped Anderson in 2018 his number plummeted. You can expect the same with Davis after the 2022 season if/when the Wizards rid themselves of his horrible contract. Just a poor man’s Kevin Love.
Bertans deal already looks bad…really bad
Bertans plays no D. Definitely overpaid
Collins has nothing prove??? Really
You’re in the playoffs for the first time. How about you show up and try to win. Hawks will trade him next yr, book it. Sign n trade for sure.
Always thought Obi1 and Okongwu were most NBA ready players in draft. And both hardly played. Amazing to me.
Even in today’s game I have a hard time understanding how a role player who only excels at shooting 3s is worth $20 mil. Can’t believe they’re already talking about Duncan Robinson looking at a Bertans contract
Agreed that $18-$20M/year going rate for shooters (Harris, Bertans) seems to be a stretch. But this is the premium put into shooting in today’s NBA game.
Bertans is a classic example of players being in a right fit with his team ……. he was fairly efficient when he was in a Pop offense back with the SPURS.
The WIZARDS are a different team altogether. Bertans has basically become a standstill shooter, nothing else.
Duncan Robinson should look at Bertans story closely, come the offseason ……. with the HEAT, his overall game has been on the uptick, his defense and rebounding has improved – he’s even mixing it up now with drives to the basket and mid-range shots.
If Duncan plays his cards right, he should stick with the HEAT, he’ll get the bag and his overall game will improve with the HEAT’s known player development.
Even after averaging a triple-double for the fourth time, some are wondering if Russ deserves to be named to one of the All-NBA teams. Does he really deserve it more than players like Curry, Lillard, Beal, Doncic, Kyrie, Mitchell, or Harden? Hell no.