Bledsoe's Return
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:09 am
LA Daily News
Great to hear that he will be ready for action soon but I have to question where his minutes will come from. We have all seen how well Mo has transitioned is his new role off the bench and it would be counterproductive to cut his minutes. So I see Bledsoe's minutes coming from Billups and Foye, but how many are there to spare?
I have been talking up the pairing of Paul and Bledsoe on the court together all season. The fact that Bledsoe played his college career at the 2 is encouraging, and just imagine how lightning quick our backcourt would be with Paul/Bledsoe.
I see us easing him back into the rotation slowly in February, and eventually settling at around 10-15mpg most likely at the cost of Foye's minutes (which is a shame for Foye).
Eric Bledsoe is past the point of cursing his dumb luck over tearing the meniscus in his right knee last October during an offseason workout at home in Alabama.
The Clippers' second-year point guard doesn't need to be reminded how the injury and subsequent surgery cost him all of training camp and ruined a golden opportunity for significant playing time early in the season.
Or how it could have been him, not someone else, picking up the minutes in place of the injured Chris Paul or Chauncey Billups or Mo Williams.
He knows. Boy, does he know.
"It's frustrating, trust me," Bledsoe said.
But he's done fretting over it.
His focus now is on showing the Clippers' medical staff he is ready to return. Bledsoe insisted he could play now if needed after his knee held up well after two weeks of full-throttle practicing.
"I'm feeling good, real good," he said Sunday.
The Clippers are playing it safe, though, and at this point it looks like it will be another two weeks before Bledsoe is cleared to play in games.
"The goal is the first week of February," he said.
When Bledsoe does return, Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro will face a fascinating dilemma.
When completely healthy the Clippers are loaded at point guard with Paul backed up by Williams and Billups available to slide over from shooting guard if necessary.
There is no doubt the 22-year-old Bledsoe is an up-and-coming player, but finding him sufficient minutes in a crowded backcourt will be tricky.
But that's a problem for another day. For now, Bledsoe just wants to play.
"It's difficult because you see the team out there playing and all you can do is watch," he said. "You definitely want to be out there."
If all goes according to plan, he will be in a couple of weeks.
Great to hear that he will be ready for action soon but I have to question where his minutes will come from. We have all seen how well Mo has transitioned is his new role off the bench and it would be counterproductive to cut his minutes. So I see Bledsoe's minutes coming from Billups and Foye, but how many are there to spare?
I have been talking up the pairing of Paul and Bledsoe on the court together all season. The fact that Bledsoe played his college career at the 2 is encouraging, and just imagine how lightning quick our backcourt would be with Paul/Bledsoe.
I see us easing him back into the rotation slowly in February, and eventually settling at around 10-15mpg most likely at the cost of Foye's minutes (which is a shame for Foye).