As Washington Wizards fans, we’re conditioned to look for the flaws in the team. Personally, I’ve been trying to produce #PositivePixels about the team and rarely focus on the negatives unless they’re blatant. However, Randy Wittman‘s club wasn’t the most efficient and it’s cost them a number of games — that’s a blatant flaw.

Over the past few years, teams are beginning to focus more on the three point shot and less on the mid-range jumper. The most successful teams in the league have used advanced analytics to their advantage and have essentially eliminated the deep two point shot from their offense.

Unfortunately, the Wizards weren’t one of those teams last year.

Instead, the team played traditional lineups and would often settle for open mid-range jump shots. While that mid-range jump shot isn’t entirely bad, the Wizards don’t have an elite mid-range shooter on their roster. Teams focused on limiting their drives and the Washington Wizards gladly took “what the defense gave them”.

Washington’s offense suffered as a result and their struggles late in the season could be attributed to the limited offense.

Pundits called for the team to start playing more small-ball, which theoretically could help space the floor out to the three point line, but Wittman waited until the NBA Playoffs to utilize his players correctly.

During the playoffs, Washington finished among the top teams in offensive and defensive efficiency.

More importantly, they began to start driving to the basket and settled for mid-range jumpers a lot less.

With Paul Pierce spacing the floor for the guards, John Wall and Bradley Beal had room to operate while Marcin Gortat had space to roll to the basket.

Perhaps more than anyone, though, Beal benefited from the lineup changes and his game elevated.

Beal averaged roughly 23 points and nearly 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game during the postseason. Instead of settling for mid-range jumpers, Beal scored off the dribble and knocked down 37 percent of his three point attempts.

If Beal could put up similar numbers during the regular season, then the 22-year-old guard will end up making his first All-Star appearance this upcoming season. For Beal, it’s all a matter of settling less and staying aggressive on the offensive end of the floor.

Luckily for Washington Wizards fans, it looks like he’s finally going to stop taking those dreaded deep twos:

“I have to do as much as I can as best as I can to eliminate those long twos and get to the basket, get to the free-throw line,” Beal said. “Those are just easy points.”

(h/t BulletsForever)

Beal has all the potential to become a top-3 shooting guard in the NBA. He’s long, athletic, can shoot the ball and he’s a capable defender. Some of the blame could be put on Wittman and the Washington Wizards for relying on two point shots, but ultimately, Beal needs to take matters into his own hands and develop his game properly.

The Washington Wizards added a number of wing players this summer so it looks like they’re seriously going to continue playing small-ball. Everyone on the roster will benefit from the change, but this upcoming season will be extremely important for Bradley Beal.

He’ll inevitably take two point shots occasionally, but if Beal starts to attack more frequently instead of settling, the Wizards might have another All-Star on their roster.