Bradley Beal flashes elite scoring, slows in the second half against the Lakers

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty ImagesAtop a basketball court colored like frosted wild berry pop tarts, Bradley Beal made his home debut in a Phoenix Suns’ uniform. An excited crowd was in attendance to experience the In-Season Tournament game against the Lakers, while lining up to buy El Valle merchandise from the team shop.

Beal displayed his athleticism throughout the first half, testing and contorting to score his 20 first-half points on 7-of-10 shooting in 16 minutes played. It was clear why Frank Vogel waited until the 8th game of the season to let Beal play: due to his style of play, the lower back is vital to his effectiveness. That’s not to say that any other player wouldn’t…