Eric Bledsoe: The New Leader Of The Phoenix Suns
Qualities Of A Leader
Throw all the numbers from — good and bad — out the window for a second and consider this if you still aren’t convinced: last night’s win pulled the Suns within 1.5 games of the Thunder for the West’s final playoff spot. A loss would have dropped them to 3.5 games back.
It had only been a week ago that one-third of Phoenix’s roster was shipped out at the trade deadline. Between the new faces trying to learn the new playing style and the regulars trying to help everyone get settled in, the Suns were in desperate need of a win to try to build some cohesion and keep distant playoff hopes alive.
Bledsoe delivered.
Keep in mind, this was a team that had won two of its last 10 games heading into last night’s contest with the Thunder — and one of those wins had come in uninspiring fashion against a tanking Denver Nuggets team.
Bledsoe was the one who made it happen against quite possibly the NBA’s best point guard. He made big play after big play. He laid it all on the line and the emotion, focus and energy were all there and readily apparent for every second of the 42 minutes he was on the floor.
Suns forward P.J. Tucker noted the sense of urgency for the team after the big win and noted that it seemed to emanate from Bledsoe.
“For sure. I think everybody, especially him,” he said. “We had a conversation, and I told him, ‘It starts from the top and trickles down.'”
Bledsoe acknowledged the responsibility on his plate of being a leader as well.
“I just tried to show a little more ability [to lead], especially for our teammates,” he said. “They feed off that, that’s what my coaches have been telling me, this is my team they’re telling me. Just step up, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Sometimes this season, we’ve seen Bledsoe become disengaged and when he’s not fully locked in, his potential as a leader has been easy to scrutinize. But even though it was only one game, we may have seen Eric Bledsoe grow up last night.
I’m not saying the Phoenix Suns’ troubles are over or that Eric Bledsoe is an All-Star just yet. I’m not even saying the Suns are going to pull off some magical run for the playoffs behind his strong play. But if last night taught us anything, it’s that Eric Bledsoe is one scary individual when he’s properly motivated.
Now the key is finding that consistency.
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