The first time Washington Wizards rookie Bradley Beal attempted to embarrass an opponent with a thunderous jam, he got a painful lesson on the need to think before dunking. Beal picked the wrong target when he elevated for a throw down on Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith, one of the game’s best leapers and shot blockers, and crashed on his backside after Smith stuffed the ball.

“The NBA is such a different style play than it is in college. It’s so much faster. It takes time to understand,” Coach Randy Wittman said of Beal, who played one season at Florida. “He’s starting to see areas where his shots are, where he can be aggressive, where he can’t be aggressive.”

“My confidence is sky high,” said Beal, who is averaging 20 points over his past three games. “I feel more comfortable. The role that I’m in. And everything is starting to slow down for me, to be honest with you. I’m just taking what’s in front of me, taking what the defense is giving me, and coach is putting me in great positions, as well as my teammates.”

via Michael Lee of the Washington Post