Valley of the Suns
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Areas Bradley Beal must improve for Suns to be title contender

By Ermay Duran

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 18: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against the Sacramento Kings at Capital One Arena on March 18, 2023 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 18: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against the Sacramento Kings at Capital One Arena on March 18, 2023 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 18: Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards shoots. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 18: Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards shoots. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Midrange Mastery: A double-edged sword

Beal’s midrange game is strong, with more than 45 percent of his shot attempts coming from the midrange in each of the past three seasons. While this adds a dimension to the Suns’ offense, it also raises concerns about potential diminishing returns in terms of the team’s shot profile.

The Suns must work on integrating Beal’s midrange game without sacrificing efficiency. This may require a stylistic shift or a more balanced approach to shot selection. The challenge will be to leverage Beal’s midrange skills without falling into the “math problem” of trading 2s for 3s, which hurt the Suns against Denver Nuggets in the 2023 postseason, a painful 4-2 semi-final exit.

Catch-and-shoot capability

Beal’s catch-and-shoot ability is a strength that could be valuable to the Suns. He has consistently shot at 38 percent or better on catch-and-shoot looks. However, his 3-point shooting has declined somewhat in recent years.

The Suns must capitalize on Beal’s catch-and-shoot prowess while also working to improve his overall 3-point efficiency. This will involve creating more open looks for Beal and encouraging him to take advantage of these opportunities.

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