Bradley Beal’s first postseason experience as a professional basketball player proved to be a most successful venture.
The former Chaminade College Prep All-American averaged nearly 20 points a game in leading the Washington Wizards to a 4-1 series victory over the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs.
“We just felt we could beat them,” said Beal during a radio interview with a local Washington D.C. station. “We knew if we played the right way on both ends of the floor, we can win the series. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”
The Wizards will face the winner of the Indiana-Atlanta series, which will be decided on Saturday evening when the two teams meet in Game 7 in Indianapolis.
The 6’5” Beal enjoyed an excellent first-round performance against the Bulls. Beal averaged 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.0 steal while playing 41 minutes per game. He also shot 44 percent from the field, 45 percent from 3-point range and 88 percent from the free throw line.
Beal is in his second season after playing one year of college at Florida. He has teamed with fourth-year guard John Wall to form one of the league’s most dynamic young backcourts. The Wall-Beal backcourt combination was dominant in the series victory over Chicago.
