Eric Bledsoe Says Suns Should Compete For Higher Seed
Despite being one of the winningest franchises in NBA history, the Phoenix Suns haven’t made the playoffs since 2010, back when Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire were still All-Star caliber players. General manager Ryan McDonough has built and rebuilt the roster over the course of three summers in Phoenix, trying to find the right mix of spare parts to turn into a contender.
McDonough was unable to do so this summer in the Suns’ failed pursuit of free agent LaMarcus Aldridge, but he still snagged Tyson Chandler and re-signed Brandon Knight to solidify a starting five that should be a pretty competent group defensively. The question is, will it make a difference in the brutal Western Conference?
ALSO ON VALLEY OF THE SUNS: Can Eric Bledsoe Become A Leader For The Suns?
As the young Suns look to end a five-year playoff drought, starting point guard Eric Bledsoe believes his team should be aiming for something higher than a bottom feeder playoff spot in the West.
“We’re definitely trying to make a run at a playoff spot,” Bledsoe told ABC 15 Arizona. “We’re not trying to get the last spot, either. We’re trying to get a high spot.”
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You’ve got to admire Bledsoe’s optimism and faith in his teammates, but this comment feels pretty similar to when Ty Lawson said the Denver Nuggets should be a top-four team in the West before the 2014-15 season started. The Nuggets finished the season with a 30-52 record (12th in the West), fired their head coach halfway through the season and traded Lawson a few months later.
Bledsoe’s comments might not be a precursor to such a drastic implosion like Lawson’s prediction was with the Nuggets, but expecting the Suns to nab a top seed in the West is just unrealistic.
The returning champion Golden State Warriors might not win 67 games this season, but they’re bringing basically everyone back. The always dangerous San Antonio Spurs added LaMarcus Aldridge and David West this summer. The Houston Rockets have basically the same roster, only they added another playmaker in Lawson.
The Los Angeles Clippers kept DeAndre Jordan after all and addressed their biggest weakness by strengthening the bench this offseason. The Memphis Grizzlies have everybody back and the Oklahoma City Thunder will be healthy again. That’s six teams right there that are quite clearly projected to be better than Phoenix.
In fact, there’s no guarantee the Suns even make the postseason at all. The New Orleans Pelicans snuck into the postseason last year largely thanks to Kevin Durant‘s injury problems, but Anthony Davis is a bonafide MVP candidate and the Pellies will benefit from Alvin Gentry’s arrival as head coach.
Then there’s the Utah Jazz, who were the NBA’s stingiest defense by a mile last season once they traded away Enes Kanter and fully committed to Rudy Gobert in the middle. Dante Exum‘s unfortunate non-contact injury means Utah’s defense will take a slight step back, but the Jazz will still be another strong contender for a playoff spot.
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The Suns, meanwhile, still have to figure out how Bledsoe and Knight fit alongside each other. The 11 games Knight played last year in Phoenix were a tiny sample size, but they weren’t particularly encouraging either. Chandler will bring locker room leadership and championship experience as the team’s defensive anchor (provided he can stay healthy), but will it be enough for a run to the postseason?
Phoenix also has to deal with the elephant in the room: a disgruntled Markieff Morris, who was infuriated with the front office when it unceremoniously shipped him off to the Detroit Pistons in order to make room for Aldridge. Morris has publicly stated his intention to be playing for another team in 2015-16 and could threaten locker room chemistry if he remains on the roster.
A lot has to go right for the Suns to make the playoffs, let alone snag a seed higher than eighth. For a player in Bledsoe’s position who’s trying to step up as a leader, you have to respect his positive attitude. A guy who’s trying to prove that he can lead this team back to the playoffs almost has to take this approach rather than a more realistic stance like “we’ll be lucky to make it at all.”
Still, every team but the Philadelphia 76ers has reason to be optimistic about the upcoming season in September. In the gauntlet that is the West, Bledsoe’s words will be put to the test soon enough.
Next: Suns Column: Patience The Best Approach With Markieff Morris