Bradley Beal may be the most decontextualized player in the current NBA. At 27 years old, this boy trained at the University of Florida has enough experience and the youth necessary to lead a winning team; not in vain is the league’s top scorer. What happen? Well, he has been in one of the worst teams in the competition for three seasons.
The Washington shooting guard last night scored 35 points in 35 minutes to give the Wizards their sixth victory of the course (they are 14th in the Eastern Conference). He achieved the triumph, but he is not quite happy. Before the game he declared that he could not make everyone better and that it depended on the personal commitment of each one. Against Chicago there was no Russell Westbrook (rest) but at least he had the accompaniment of Rui Hachimura with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
All 35 points from Beal were answered by another 35 from Zach LaVine. However, the Bulls star could not put the icing on his performance by forcing extra time. Two points down, he attacked the hoop and ran into Alex Len. He did not score and thought he had been fouled by the pivot. The referees did not see it that way. The game was over.
“I think I did the penetration and there was contact. The referees saw it differently. Everyone tells me to attack the hoop at the end of matches, not to settle. I think that is just what I did. I think I caused that contact. I guess I have to convert the tray, ”LaVine says.
Neither team is doing very well, but at least the Wizards seem to have cut the bleeding of losses. Of their last six games they have won three, and although it is not a mark to be proud of, Scott Brooks is clear that it is important after the complicated weeks that have passed when they are very affected by the coronavirus. “Usually I wouldn’t be thrilled about a 3-3, but we’ve been through a lot. Our boys have fought ”.
There is less sense of satisfaction in Chicago. A few dates ago they were seen in the fight for the playoffs with a balance of 7-8; now, after losing six of their last eight games, they are 11th in the East at 9-14. They need to improve for Illinois.
(Photograph by Rob Carr / Getty Images)
