[BowtotheBrowParticipant]

 What’s everyone think of Bradley Beal?

 

[r377Participant]

Great rebounder.  I think he has Klay Thompson type potential    16-18ppg scorer

[BowtotheBrowParticipant]

I’ve only seen him in a couple games. Seems like he can score a lot. Could he be another 20 or 25 points a night scorer in the NBA?

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

To me he plays alot like Joe Dumars….And he’s a much better outside shooter then he showed in his freshman year at Florida…..

[topotamolderParticipant]

He is  a good ncaa player, but I don’t know how is he going to translate to the pros, He is undersized,  won’t be able to rebound or defend like that at the next level, his ballhandling isn’t great, he isn’t athletic or specially fast, and his shoot has been a dissapointment.

I like him a lot because of his basketball IQ and feel for the game and he always finds ways to score, but I’m not totally sold on him about his transition to the pros

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

He is a good ncaa player, but I don’t know how is he going to translate to the pros, He is undersized, won’t be able to rebound or defend like that at the next level

———————————————————————————————————————

 

If he measures out at 6-4, 207 lbs (which is what draft net has him at) then I don’t see why he wouldn’t be able to rebound and defend at the next level, that’s a similiar size to Dwyane Wade and Tony Allen.

I’ve said so for a while but I feel like he is the best SG in this class. Stronger than Lamb and better all-around, with a superior mental makeup and a better jump shot than Rivers.

[rwd5035Participant]

I think Beal could succeed in the right situation, but you’d be crazy to take him over Jeremy Lamb.

[A Lil EnglishParticipant]

I’m not sure he is undersized – we will see at the combine but from I can see he has adequate bulk & strength considering he’s a freshaman. His wingspan also looks big enough so I would expect he will end up big & strong enough to compensate for being 6’3"

Although his 3pt shooting hasn’t been as good as expected he’s shown to be a good defender and team player. The only SG I would take before him would be Rivers (that’s if they both come out)

[akhan786Participant]

@Rudeboy

If the Cavs get Beal…could you see the return of the Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars backcourt?

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 way better than klay and i would take him over lamb all day. Lamb lacks heart and a motor. Dont be surprized if he ends up in the top 5 with an elite 8 final 4 run

[rwd5035Participant]

Lamb lacks heart? Based on what criteria exactly? 

[WeavvvParticipant]

It’s been noted all year by numerous scouts that Lamb is lacking in the "motor" department. If you’ve watched any Big East play, you’d see that. With him and Drummond, that should have been a top tier Big East team, not an eventual 8 seed who gets worked in the first round of the NCAA tourney, as a bubble team.
What’s important when comparing Beal and Lamb are the intangibles, as well as the physical tools. If you want to talk about size, ESPN has Beal measured bigger than Lamb. Both listed at 6’5, with Beal allegedly weighing 10 lbs bigger at 195 vs 185.
Lamb seems more like he could end up as an elite wing defender, with elite athleticism in a Thabo Sefolosha sort of way. And i’m referring more to the Thabo with Chicago, known as the "Swiss-Mister" who could shut down most wings with his freaky athleticism. His range is decent, as well as a decent mid range shot. He’s got the tools, he just needs to put them into play. When he wasn’t being asked to lead the team (ala, last year with Kemba leading the team) he stepped up in the tournament, which eventually was able to bring his draft stock way up coming into this year. While being asked to take on more of a leadership defined role this year, he’s not embraced it as you’d like from a high lottery pick. His shooting % his dipped, albeit, slightly, as well as his deep range. Of course, those things are to be expect when your usage increases as much as Lamb’s has. While his assists have nearly exactly stayed the same, his TO rate has increased. But on the brightest side, his defensive prowess has risen, noted by his steals increasing slightly, and his foul rate staying nearly the same.

Beal on the other hand, has the tools, and has been able to utilize them.. in a leadership role, even as a freshman. Rather than having that year to work behind a 1st round pick his freshman year (ie like Lamb with Walker last year). Beal has range beyond Lamb. He’s noted mostly for his excellent shooting, but is also able to use his athleticism and basketball IQ to make things happen with the ball in his hands, rather than solely as an off the ball scorer. He can play point, as has been showcased throughout the year, and along with Patric Young, has been able to lead an overachieving Florida team throughout the year. 
 

As it seems, the biggest knock on Beal between you guys, AND scouts is his size. But when he’s currently listed BIGGER than Jeremy Lamb, I’m not going to argue with it.. especially as he’s been asked to play PG on a regular basis this season. In my eyes, this is Beal by quite a bit.

[rwd5035Participant]

I’m just curious though, did Lamb lack heart last year when he hit big shots all March? Whenever players are as smooth offensively as Lamb is they get that "where’s his heart" tag quite easily.

There were clear problems at UConn this year that went further than Lamb. Drummond proved to be unreliable offensively, and Lamb thrived last year off of Kemba. Kemba was able to give Lamb the ball where he needed it so he could rise up for a jumper. Their head coach had to miss part of the season because of an ailment. Lamb needs to develop parts of his game, but just based on raw ability, I’d take him over Beal in a heartbeat.

FWIW, Beal is listed as 6’3” on the mothership. I like Beal’s game, but I like Lamb’s more. I’m not trying to make it seem like Beal has no shot in the pros either. I think he’s a good player, but Lamb’s ceiling is higher IMO.

I’ve been wrong before, and will be wrong again. Maybe I’m wrong here. But as of now, over the entire body of work, I’d take Lamb over Beal.

[WeavvvParticipant]

 

PICK	TEAM	PLAYER	VITALS
	Portland (via Nets)	Bradley Beal	Position: SG Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 195 pounds Age: 18 School: Florida

Analysis: The Blazers grabbed this pick from the Nets as part of the Gerald Wallace trade last week. The pick is top-three protected, so if the Nets keep losing, it will revert back to New Jersey. For now, this is the best-case scenario for the Blazers, who have a lot of needs after blowing the team up. And shooting guard is a big one.

Beal hasn’t had a domiant freshman season, but his scoring ability in the backcourt would help the Blazers get over the loss of Brandon Roy a little sooner.

 

 

 

That listing is 6 foot 5, in case it didn’t paste properly.
 

As far as your argument for Lamb, his heart has been questioned this year. Again, by numerous scouts.
He was labled as "Kemba Walker’s Wingman" last year, and hasn’t been quite able to break that spell this year. He’s an excellent talent, yes.. but I don’t see where people think his tools are more valuable than Beals. As far as I’m concerned, Beal is a better ball handler, has a better basketball IQ, and a better shooter. Three traits that translate to the League. Lamb is able to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket, but once he starts playing against 6’7 defenders, who are absolute monsters, without a much improved outside shot, he’s not getting past anybody.

Everyone has been/will be wrong. This is all speculative at this point. And there is still a tournament to finish, along with the combine, work outs, etc. I could very well be wrong, as well. But the bottom line is expected place in the draft. As far as we know, both these kids could end up back at school next year.

The biggest thing I see and read, is that the ‘raw ability’ that you speak up seems to favor Beal over Lamb. Beal has been showing his ass off for one year, being the backcourt leader (while, by the way, playing every position 1-4 in Florida’s guard heavy offense) all year.. while Lamb has struggled to embrace that role, even in his second year when it was handed to him on a silver platter. That’s where the biggest argument for his "lack of motor/heart" is mentioned.
Just keep in mind every year there are a few kids that scouts label that way (lack of motor/heart), and every year scouts are scared of these players. Sometimes they look past it and draft them high (ie Demarcus Cousins), and sometimes they shy away from them.

[carefulParticipant]

 How are you possibly going to say Bradley Beal is a better shooter than Jeremy Lamb and has more range than him?? Lamb shoots 5% (48%) better from the floor and shoots a slightly higher 3 point percentage, all while having an even higher usage rate than Beal.  He’s also a better FT shooter by the way.  And don’t give me this "Oh well beal’s only a freshman" because Lamb had better shooting percentages in every category as a freshman as well.  For sure Beal can get to the basket better than Lamb but Lamb is definitely a better shooter.  

[carefulParticipant]

 Also I’ll guarantee that Lamb is taller than Beal.  We’ll have to wait for the combine but you can hold me to that statement.  He’s also much longer…his wingspan is insane.

[So raspyParticipant]

I would shocked if Lamb doesn’t measure at least 6’6. I wouldn’t be shocked if Beal measures 6’3. I don’t hold much stock in things like that, but it factors in alot to draft selection. Hard to say which ones going to be better cause theyre both so young. Beal has played better when it’s counted, but Lamb has the look of a top notch 2. Depends on the team drafting.

[iguapops420Participant]

 Don’t expect Lamb to have an insane wingspan even for how long his arms actually are. His shoulders aren’t very wide. I’d expect 6’11 or 7′. Still great, but I’ve seen shorter pg’s with that kind of wingspan.

[HadzialijagicParticipant]

Brad Beals shot hasnt been falling this year but in high school he didnt miss anything. Also his shot form is picture perfect.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

To answer AKHAN786Question..

They would compliment each other will well..Some might ask why put them in the backcourt 2gether when both are oversized…People had the same questions about Thomas and Dumars when Detroit drafted Dumars…But they both had high basketball IQs ,highly competitive,strength, and knew how to use that make for their lack of length…I believe Beal will blossom in the pros..

[lalailaParticipant]

 where those 6’3 talks come from..when he was only 17 last year at Hoop Summit he already measured 6’4.5 plus his latest weigh lists at 207..he is a real physical spiceman at sg position plus he has a great nose for a ball at rebounding and that body only will help him..

 

on the other hand i really believe Lamb is 6’6 or even 6’7 and even if he isn’t his over 7′ wingspan gives him huge credit..but he will never be as strong as Bradley..

[Ghost01Participant]

Lamb lacks heart? Based on what criteria exactly?

He said MOTOR, not heart. And if you have watched UConn this year, he basically defers to anyone who could like to be deferred to, even though he’s the best player on his team.

Alot of ignorance here…all the draft prognosticators have Beal going top 5, yet everyone is trying to argue he should go lower. He is a better shooter than Lamb. Maybe not from midrange, but if you watched Lamb down the stretch this year, his settling for mid rang shots wasn’t exactly to his benefit; he miss a lot of them. Beal is a better NBA prospect than Lamb. I get the height thing. Those 2 inches don’t matter nearly as much as you would think. The NBA is moving in the combo guard direction.

[Ghost01Participant]

Lamb is a nice player, but severely overrated in this thread.

[carefulParticipant]

 I’m not saying Lamb is the better prospect. I just believe that he is the better shooter and his stats back up that statement.  Lamb settled for a lot of poor shots this year (deep covered 3’s at the end of the shot clock, due to Uconn’s lack of an offense and also Lamb’s lack of driving) and still shot a comparable 3 point % to Beal and a better overall shooting %.

[Future_Scout]

 ^ agree

[WeavvvParticipant]

 Well I’m not sure where you read the stat that Lamb’s 3pt% was better, as this season, they’re nearly identical, with Beal’s being a tid bit better.
While Lamb’s overall shooting percentage is better, it’s also a product of the offense he’s played in all year. Watch a Florida game (afterall, they’re playing in the elite 8..Uconn, not so much). They typically play a 4 guard offense, with one big man. Beal has been asked to play every position from the 1 to the 4. Causing him to be off his game, and yet he still plays at an extremely high level despite playing extremely out of position.
I’m not trying to take anything away from Lamb. He’s a good player, but seems to be lacking in important aspects of the game. 

But @careful, if you’re going to use statistics, you should probably use some accurate ones. As you’ve been quoting numbers from Lamb’s freshman year, not this season.
The only percentages from Lamb’s freshman season, to this year, that has gone up is his FT%, which has only increased by .02%.

[carefulParticipant]

You would respond to this post a day after Beal has a terrific shooting game…that’s the reason why his 3 point % is now slightly higher than Lamb’s.  A few days ago Beal’s 3 point % was at 33% flat.  I never said Lamb’s shooting percentages increased from his freshman year to his sophomore year either so I have no clue where you’re getting that from.  All I said was that Lamb has had better shooting percentages than Beal in both his freshman (48.7%) and sophomore seasons (47.8%).  And Lamb is the focus of the defenses that UConn faces and he rarely gets shots at the rim so I don’t think UConn’s system benefits Lamb any more than Florida’s benefits Beal.

[DurantsWingspan]

I see him as an Eric Gordon clone. Definitely top 2 guard in my book with Lamb and Rivers trailing right behind respectively.

[WeavvvParticipant]

 I responded today because I didn’t have a chance to get on here yesterday. Nice try, though.
I wasn’t claiming that you made any statement about Lambs frosh vs. sophomore numbers, I was just putting it out there. But you HAVE been using Lamb’s freshman numbers for your comparisons, @careful.. which, defeats the purpose.
And guess what, Beal did have a great game last night.. while Lamb was probably watching on TV from home. That says a little something, I’d say.
And Lamb hasn’t necessarily been the focus.. he does have a potential top 5 pick sitting in the post? That tends to draw defenders off the wing from time to time.

 

UConn has definitely been able to support a better system for Lamb than Florida/Beal. Lamb has been able to play off the ball all season, having a very capable 1 (Shabazz Napier) who can distribute, and Lamb has still "struggled" to find that magic being the #1 backcourt option (as opposed to Walker, last year.. as was mentioned earlier). 
Shooting woes aside, I tend to agree with %’s 9 times out of 10.. but it’s been noted by scouts, previous stats, and myself just watching these two play.. I’d take Beal shooting the rock from 20+ feet out over Lamb any day. Beal looks more comfortable, and has a better stroke. Lamb looks forced, etc.
At the next level its a big combination of things. Despite the fact that Beal has been playing on the ball a whole lot more this year, as opposed to having a distinguished ball handler/distributor, he’s still been able to put the ball in the hole, from distance, at a decent %. He’s also able to get to the rack easier and more consistently than Lamb (look at FT rate..Not even close), which in turn allows Beal more space on the exterior. Beal looks like he’ll be more flexible in any type of system, which in turn allows him, along with all the physical tools he already possesses to thrive at the next level.

[carefulParticipant]

 I originally used Lamb’s sophomore numbers to compare and I will again…he’s had a better overall shooting year than Beal and I still think he’s a better shooter.  I haven’t said anything about Lamb being a better prospect, better on the ball, better at driving and getting to the FT line, etc.  So I don’t understand why you’re bringing up that Lamb’s team isn’t in the tournament anymore.  Maybe Beal is a better leader.  That’s not what I’m arguing.  All I’m saying is that I think Lamb is a better shooter than Beal.  He’s smooth as hell

[DurantsWingspan]

I don’t think its that close. Just compare their freshman years. Beal is  better as a freshman than Lamb as a sophomore. It’s that simple.

[WeavvvParticipant]

 There are all different kinds of shooting. What I’m trying to explain is that Beal is a better overall shooter.. not just situational. Beal has been able to create his own shot, shoot off the dribble, shoot in the lane, at the hoop, midrange, and off the catch. Lamb’s FG% exceeds Beal’s, yes, but saying he’s a better "shooter" is to broad.
Saying Lamb is smooth is also false, IMO. He takes plays off, which I would argue is the opposite of smooth. Unless it’s a tactic to throw his defender off, and allow him to make an easier play once he decides to get his head in the game. If Lamb gave 100%, all out, one could argue that he could be the best wing player in this draft.. I just don’t see it.

[DurantsWingspan]

I think he could be to, he just doesn’t have the drive and I doubt he will ever make it to being there. Beal is better and has that killer instinct and desire to win and be the best.

[Author]

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