Valley of the Suns
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Eric Bledsoe: The New Leader Of The Phoenix Suns

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 6, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) reacts after scoring a basket in the fourth quarter during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Suns beat the Bucks 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) reacts after scoring a basket in the fourth quarter during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Suns beat the Bucks 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Eric Bledsoe
Feb 21, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) is defended by Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Well-Rounded Play

Last night, Bledsoe finished one assist shy of his third triple-double on the season, which would have tied him with Rajon Rondo and Michael Carter-Williams for second-most in the league.

Two triple-doubles doesn’t do Bledsoe’s well-rounded play justice, however. On Feb. 23, Bledsoe finished three rebounds shy of a triple-double. On Jan. 23 it was one assist and two rebounds that prevented him from reaching the triple-double mark. On Dec. 28, he finished with 22 points, eight boards and eight dimes.

You get the point; this guy is a regular triple-double threat who is fully capable of putting up solid numbers in multiple categories on any given night.

But even Bledsoe’s penchant for regularly approaching triple-double territory doesn’t do his well-rounded play justice, since Phoenix is also fortunate to have one of the NBA’s most tenacious defenders at the point guard position.

To be fair, the Suns are still one of the worst defensive teams in the league. But Bledsoe’s defensive rating of 103.2 points per 100 possessions is one of the best marks on the team, which is even more impressive considering Bledsoe is regularly tasked with defending other team’s point guards — the position most loaded with talent in the NBA.

This season, we’ve seen Bledsoe defend everyone from Russell Westbrook to Damian Lillard to Derrick Rose to Chris Paul to Stephen Curry. He’s not going to lock down those kinds of players every night, but when he’s fully engaged he can hinder them enough to tire them out and give the Suns an advantage.

Next: About Last Night

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