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The Phoenix Suns’ Best Position of Strength is at Point Guard

By Adam Maynes

Sep 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns players (from left) Archie Goodwin , Brandon Knight , Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker pose for a portrait during media day at Talking Stick Resort Arena. All four players previous played basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns players (from left) Archie Goodwin , Brandon Knight , Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker pose for a portrait during media day at Talking Stick Resort Arena. All four players previous played basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Eric Bledsoe

There are 30 teams in the NBA. and Eric Bledsoe is arguably the fifth best point guard in the league when healthy.

That is a very solid position for a team looking to build into the future. And even if you make the argument that he is seventh or eighth best point guard overall, Eric Bledsoe is still one of the top players at his position, a positional ranking that on any team is a very good baseline when trying to put together a competitive starting five.

Yes, at 26 going on 27 years old, Eric Bledsoe has never averaged more than 6.1 assists a game, a number that he has matched each of the last two seasons. And yes – since the late 80s – the best point guards in franchise history have averaged well above that. But no one can argue that Bledsoe does not have the skill to average a higher number of assists per game, if given the opportunity full-time.

In Los Angeles, Bledsoe played behind Chris Paul, and was never given the opportunity to lead the franchise for any significant stretch. Since his arrival In Phoenix, he has had to share the ball handling responsibilities with Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas, and Brandon Knight. All ball-centric point guards in their own right, and each who must have the ball in their hands predominantly to be most effective.

Because of the emergence of Devin Booker as the best, most up-and-coming shooting guard in the league, the starting lineup will not be able to feature the three best guards on the roster at the same time, in Bledsoe, Knight, and Booker.

Chances are – and most fans are clamoring for – Devin Booker to share the backcourt with Eric Bledsoe in the starting lineup, relegating Brandon Knight to a bench role (or to another team through a trade – but more on that later).

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Therefore, when given the opportunity to start in a backcourt as the primary ball handler and playmaking facilitator, Eric Bledsoe will very likely be able to raise his assists average higher than his previous career high, which very possibly will be close to the 10 assist per game mark, if not above.

My desire is for Bledsoe to be such a full-time facilitator. Turning 27 during this season, he will have another six good seasons left in his career at least, and easily could be the starting point guard on a contending team – should his knees allow.

This season Bledsoe needs to take the reins at point relegating Brandon Knight to the bench, giving Eric his first real opportunity to lead a team in his career. If his scoring average remains the same or improves upon last year’s 20 points per game, he will be able to reach statistics levels overall similar to those best point guards in franchise history.

Will he be better than Johnson, Kidd, or Nash? No.

Is it possible that he can statistically reach levels similar to those for at least a few seasons? Yes, which is why he leads the deepest position on the 2016-17 Phoenix Suns roster.

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