The Los Angeles Clippers are gearing up for what figures to be an exciting campaign after their many notable offseason upgrades. When the season begins, it's obvious that this team is going to need Bradley Beal to be as bought in defensively as possible.
We know that historically, bill has not been the strongest defender. During his time with the Phoenix Suns, defense was a frequently a point of criticism from fans. In Los Angeles, Beal is going to have to both show effort and exhibit some level of consistency on defense for this squad to reach its ceiling.
So what's that going to look like? I would say quickly settling into Tyronn Lue's defensive scheme, switching effectively, contesting shots every time, and even diving on the floor for loose balls. In order for Beal to truly have the mindset of someone who's pursuing an NBA championship, he's going to have to take accountability on both ends of the floor, not just in scoring the basketball.
It's obvious that the Clippers already have plenty of offensive weapons. Beal is certainly going to have plenty of opportunities to be a scorer, but the good thing is the Clippers don't have to rely primarily on him. Rather than trying to take over every time he has the ball in his hands, Brad should look to buy into LA's system.
Beal must have a championship mentality on defense
Offensively, he doesn't have to mismatch hunt every time down the floor. Being that kind of secondary complementary scorer means playing more off-ball, cutting, setting screens and just being a cog in the Clippers' machine. What that will do is allow him that much more energy to expend on the defensive end.
This is especially important when you consider the kind of wear and tear Brad has on his body at this point. He hasn't been able to play over 53 games in a season since the 2020-21 season. It's clear that playing more conservatively is going to favor his longevity.
It's safe to say that the defense piece has already been a commonly discussed issue within the Clippers' fan base. Plenty of supporters in LA still believe in his ability to be an efficient scorer and that he can accept more of a secondary scorer role, but the lackluster defense is probably still the biggest question mark.
I honestly think it's mostly going to be an effort thing when it comes to Beal's defensive contributions. If he can just buy in and commit to giving his all every possession down the floor, the Clippers will not only get the version of Beal they need, but he may finally shed the label of being a great scorer who never learned how to win at the highest level.