Following a three-game wait in the preseason, fans saw Bradley Beal play his first contest as an LA Clipper. It was in a bit of an unusual circumstance, as he was just one of two confirmed starters playing in the finale against Golden State, as the other was Ivica Zubac.
Moreover, head coach Tyronn Lue only had Beal play 15 minutes, and in that time, he impressed and proved on a loud scale through his movement and activity on both sides of the ball why he was an upgrade in Lue's starting five from a year ago.
Additionally, Beal's efforts contributed to a win, and although it is only preseason, this is a factor every fan would like to see early, as the regular season tips off in less than 48 hours.
Bradley Beal showcased a two-way presence that the Clippers did not have last season
As all of Bradley Beal's 15 minutes came in the first half, he ended his night with 12 points, two rebounds, one steal, and one block, shooting six-for-nine from the field. His domination had the LA Clippers out in front, 47-43, at the break, where the Golden State Warriors played several of their key players.
Beal's numbers surely look nice and stand out from all of the other starters in this game, but the tape will tell fans much more for those wondering how much different he is from Norman Powell.
Beal and Powell may score on a similar level, but the three-time All-Star gets his buckets in ways Norman Powell could not. This makes him more of a natural fit next to James Harden, and overall, he seems to be more careful with the ball.
Furthermore, Beal was moving off the ball with effort and a bit of urgency. This helped Ivica Zubac set him up with off-ball screens, leading to easy-money shots in the mid-range and at the iron.
Defensively, there is another side to the story, as Beal already proved Tyronn Lue's offseason comments right. He was not letting up easily, slid his feet with a pep in his step, and looked like a different ball player than last season, making him the ultimate upgrade over Powell when factoring in the finances.
That said, Beal playing this way will help the Clippers win far more games than expected, giving fans real hope that a championship will be brought by the end of June.