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Phoenix Suns: The Point Guard Hydra Is Working

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (right) and Goran Dragic on the bench prior to the game against the Toronto Raptors at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Raptors 125-109. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (right) and Goran Dragic on the bench prior to the game against the Toronto Raptors at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Raptors 125-109. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 13, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) passes the ball during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at US Airways Center. Phoenix won 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

Bledsoe’s Improvement

Last season, Eric Bledsoe only played in 43 games due to a meniscus tear midway through the year. Now that he’s back and fully healthy, the Suns have watched him blossom into one of only three players in the NBA averaging at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game (joining James Harden and Russell Westbrook).

Just beyond the halfway point of the season, he’s been the team’s most well-rounded player and probably Phoenix’s MVP. Goran Dragic has noticed the improvement in Bledsoe’s game and how it’s starting to pay off for the Suns:

"“He’s more comfortable. Of course last year was his first year with us and now he knows what to expect, how we want to play and he is so dominating at driving that nobody can stay in front of him. I think his midrange shot is better and overall, he’s more calm. “Last year was his last year of the deal and like, every player kind of notices what’s going to happen in the future. But I think he’s found a home here and he’s our guy that can rebound, he can get assists, he can stop his guy and that’s meant a lot for the team.”"

Bledsoe has two triple-doubles on the season and leads the Suns with seven double-doubles. A strong and quick guard, Bledsoe is usually able to bully his defender on the way to the basket, making him a tough defensive assignment.

However, Bledsoe is sometimes so quick attacking the basket he does more harm as good. Phoenix’s young point guard commits 3.0 turnovers per game, often driving to the basket at full speed before launching into the air toward the sideline and zipping a pass back out to the perimeter.

Sometimes those passes find their target and the ball keeps moving. But sometimes they find the hands of waiting defenders, and still other times, they sail right out of bounds.

But Bledsoe’s made a concerted effort to fix that area of his game lately, and head coach Jeff Hornacek has noticed the improvement:

"“He is [getting better attacking the basket]. I don’t mind jumping up in the air if you already have a plan. But if you just jump in the air and then you want to look for something, sometimes you find a guy, other times they’ll rotate and cut that off and now you’re stuck. He has done a better job of that.”"

As the Suns’ trio of point guards gets more action together, Dragic says the formula for success is there.

"“We’re really comfortable. Last year I was doubting a little bit, ‘How are we going to play together?’ but after training camp it really gelled together, our chemistry. It was great. Unfortunately [Bledsoe] got hurt. I mean, I know what he can do and if you play like this it’s so much easier because I know where I need to stand, where I need to be and I hope he feels the same way about me.”"

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