Boston Celtics Should Expect More Bradley Beal

The Boston Celtics need to anticipate that the Wizards will get Bradley Beal more involved

The Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards both had tremendous games in their epic battle in game two. Isaiah Thomas and John Wall did more than most thought could be possible, but both teams were getting contributions all over the place. The notable absence in the game was the second most important player on the Wizards, Bradley Beal.

Scott Brooks has already started working the referees, commenting on the Celtics being too handsy on Beal. Obviously, they have figured out how to bother Beal, but the Wizards know he is the best area for them to improve in right now.

The Celtics always have a guard on Beal that they are comfortable with. Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and even Jaylen Brown have suffocated him with their pressure, and he has been a non factor to open up the series.

Beal finished just 4-15 and 1-9 from three in the game two loss. The Wizards know they have an opportunity to have the two best players on the court with Wall and Beal, and after they failed to win on a career night from Wall, they know that Beal needs to leave an imprint on this series.

More from Hardwood Houdini

The battle of the back court is going to be one of the biggest determining factors in this series. Thomas has just shown that he can be facing the best Wall can offer, and he can give the Celtics the bit more they need to win.

If Beal plays at the same level that Wall did, then the Celtics will struggle to battle that. Of course, it helps that Bradley gets to have his impact without the most suffocating defenders covering him, but Beal knows that he can be a lot better than game two.

The Celtics will continue to play the same defense on Beal, which means he will be dealing with a lot of different dynamic looks. The Celtics could get punished if the referees decide to have a quicker whistle when the Celtics get in the face of Beal, but that will not change their approach.

The Celtics have run into foul troubles because of their aggressiveness too often this season, but they cannot change what has been working. Wall has made it clear that when he is at his best, there is not much that can be done to stop him from imposing his will. The Celtics can withstand most of what Wall can do, but only if Beal is being held in check.

The Wizards will want to get their two best players going at home, and that will mean more focus on getting Beal his opportunities. Wall is always trusted to create when it is needed, but Beal may need a little help, expect him to get that in game three.

The Celtics are in an odd situation where they still do not know who will be starting, but chances are whoever it is will help with the cause against Beal. There is a chance that Smart, Brown or Terry Rozier could start, and each of them are another option that can be used on Beal, or on the man that can best get Beal involved, Wall.

Having Bradley out there always gives them a defensive edge, but they have an opportunity to look for more defensive versatility and pressure with Johnson and Green seemingly out of the rotation.

Beal is the kind of player that can take over games. Even if the Celtics bring their best defensive effort, his ability to score is matched by very few in the NBA, and a good game from him probably means that this series is now tied after two.

Stevens found something that worked in game two, and that is a great sign. The Celtics now know they have the ability to disrupt the second most important player on the Wizards, but he will not sit idly. Getting Beal involved will be a top priority, and Stevens will need some kind of adjustment if he hopes to keep Beal’s scoring down once again.

Next: Brad Stevens' Fluid Rotation

Game three in a 2-0 series is always a turning point. 3-0 has been an insurmountable deficit in the history of the playoffs, but 2-1 puts the Wizards right back into contention. The Celtics would be foolish to expect anything short of the very best from Wall, which has been spectacular this season. More importantly, they need to expect Beal to bring a different level of intensity and effectiveness, and figuring out how to counter that could be the deciding factor in the vitally important game three.

Home/Celtics News