Bradley Beal Injury: Updates on Wizards Star's Leg and Return
The Washington Wizards are enjoying a spectacular season due mostly to their dynamic backcourt, but half of it has been compromised with shooting guard Bradley Beal ailing. Beal suffered a toe injury on Feb. 5. He returned on Feb. 28.
Continue for updates.
Peay: Can Beal Help the Wizards Turn Season Around?
Wednesday, March 4
Carla Peay of CSN Washington joined Team Stream Now to discuss how Beal's return will impact the reeling Wizards:
Beal Returns vs. Pistons
Saturday, Feb. 28
The Wizards announced Beal would be available against Detroit on Feb. 28.
Beal Exits vs. Hornets With Toe Injury
Thursday, Feb. 5
According to Chris Miller of CSNWashington.com, the 21-year-old star suffered a toe injury Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets:
After the Hornets' 94-87 win, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post provided an update on Beal's toe:
Beal was the No. 3 overall selection in the 2012 NBA draft, and it has taken him very little time to develop into one of the NBA's best 2-guards.
The former University of Florida standout averaged over 17 points per game last season and shot over 40 percent from three-point range. It's fair to say that he has picked up where he left off, which is why the Wiz are among the Eastern Conference's elite.
With that said, Beal has had some durability issues this season. He didn't make his debut until a Nov. 19 loss to the Dallas Mavericks after a broken wrist kept him out of action for about six weeks, per Mark Followill of Fox Sports:
Despite the fact that the injury forced him to miss the first nine games of the season, Beal was upbeat, as evidenced by this quote courtesy of The Washington Post's Jorge Castillo:
"When I got the news it put me at ease rather than wondering what it really was," Beal said. "I couldn't avoid surgery in no way, shape or form. And that went successfully so I can't complain. It could've been a lot worse."
Not only will he have to channel that positive energy once again as he deals with another ailment, but the rest of the team will have to as well.
While most would probably agree that point guard John Wall is the Wizards' franchise player, Beal's presence is a big reason why he is so good. Beal himself has acknowledged that Washington having two dominant scoring options at guard makes life miserable for the opposition defensively, according to Castillo:
"The team moves as we move. It is pretty good when you have a couple guys out there who can put the ball on the floor and create for their team, and as well as for themselves, and we are just continuing to develop both together as players, and as running mates. So each and every game, it can be him, it can be me, and it could be both of us sometimes. It keeps the defense off balance, because it definitely makes us tougher to guard, and on top of that we still can get our teammates involved, and it just makes us that much better.
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Beal and Wall are so good together, in fact, that Boston Celtics commentator Tommy Heinsohn considers them the preeminent backcourt combo in basketball:
For as long as Beal is out of action, the burden will fall on Wall's shoulders. The Wizards obviously won't be as dangerous without Beal, but Wall has proved more than capable of handling the extra workload.
In addition to that, guard Garrett Temple had some very solid performances in place of Beal earlier in the season. If he can replicate that, then Washington can still be successful.
The Wizards undoubtedly need Beal in the fold if they are going to challenge for an Eastern Conference title, but they are deep enough as a team to keep their heads above water for now.
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