A critical Eric Bledsoe thread

[E-Buck]

Please, Bledsoe is a crucial part of our game both offensively and defensively. Just because he doesn't have facial expressions doesn't mean he doesn't play with heart. I saw a lot of heart in him before his injury, and once he got injured is when it seems like the players on the team got a lot closer to one another. He might have missed out on that, and might feel a bit left out, but it'll catch up in time. Making the playoffs and winning a series will help boost his chemistry with the team.

[Frank Lee]

15-20 minutes of Ish will give you some Ls.

I haven't watched many games... listened to far more, but has the Bled played up to his defensive terror label?

I put him in a dark horse sign and trade somewhere. He's an impact player who is loaded with potential, that we have just gotten glimpses of. Being injured may have helped his payday situation. I just hope what ever team who decides to over pay him has a good asset to burn. I mean, would you trade him for Exum or Smart or a Vonleh ? A PG hungry team is going to be choplicking. I'd hate to see us fight over the tab too hard.

[Revived]

15-20 minutes of Ish will give you some Ls.

I haven't watched many games... listened to far more, but has the Bled played up to his defensive terror label?

He really hasn't. He was supposed to be this defensive menace, the next Raja Bell but honestly he isn't that great defensively. Even his on ball, one on one defense hasn't been anything too impressive.

I had very high expectations for Bledsoe defensively.

[JDLAW]

15-20 minutes of Ish will give you some Ls.

I haven't watched many games... listened to far more, but has the Bled played up to his defensive terror label?

I put him in a dark horse sign and trade somewhere. He's an impact player who is loaded with potential, that we have just gotten glimpses of. Being injured may have helped his payday situation. I just hope what ever team who decides to over pay him has a good asset to burn. I mean, would you trade him for Exum or Smart or a Vonleh ? A PG hungry team is going to be choplicking. I'd hate to see us fight over the tab too hard.

I have seen all but one game this year. His defense has been excellent. All you really have to do is look at difference in team defensive stats to see the effect of having him in the line-up. As for an asset to burn - the whole point in another team "overpaying" him is so that they do not have to give up assets in a sign and trade.

I do not think he is going anywhere.

.ps This is one warped thread. A bunch of guys that appear to do little except sit on the computer dreaming up new ways to nitpick and criticize a player. Such idiotic comments like, "My problem is he doesn't play with fire." What the he11 does this mean? or I am upset because he rolls the ball up the court. or It does not seem like he wants to be here for the long run. How the he11 did you arrive at this? His game is certainly not perfect, but jeez this kind of stuff - Do something with your lives.

Thank God the players do not read this nonsense.

[Herman4MVP]

They should not read it, they should be busy enough playing basketball, earning millions and buying their next villas.

Also, this is a message board where FANS can discuss their team and players and post as many crazy trade ideas or "idiotic" comments as they want to.

Every man with a competitve spirit and some kind of sports experience should know what it feels like to play with "fire" and "intensity". Ever won a tough game between friends and still felt like you just won a championship? Playing sports is just a wonderful thing where everything comes together - the rush, athletism, anger, joy, decision making, passion etc. - excuse me if I thought it would be fun to discuss this hobby on an internet forum.

And I STILL hate players who roll the ball down court for no reason other than saving seconds due to time running out.
ESPECIALLY, when all they do after that is waste 10-12 seconds of the shot clock anyway.

Of course, you're entitled to your opinion and I have no problem if you get a little annoyed about some posted negativity about little things, I can get that.

[Wannabe MEP]

His defense has been excellent. All you really have to do is look at difference in team defensive stats to see the effect of having him in the line-up.

It's really hard to evaluate defense, by stats or by the eye test. Defensive RAPM is generally considered the best measure -- it rates him as one of the best defenders in the league. (One defensive RAPM set I just looked at has him rated at 18th. Almost all of the guys in front of him were bigs: the only exceptions were Iggy, Paul George, and Tony Allen.) Raw lineup data suggests the same thing.

HIs offense clearly has weaknesses: mediocre C&S and too many turnovers from bad decisions. The RAPM numbers and lineup data agrees with that assessment. But he clearly has a lot of positives on offense, and he hasn't had a lot of starter minutes. If he improves in those areas, he'll be absolutely perfect for us.

Now, some of the questions people are bringing up are about attitude...and therefore teachability. That's pretty hard to assess from where I sit. An intense introvert is not a problem at all, but unteachable is a big problem. If Hornacek et al. don't feel like he's teachable, it's hard to picture him improving much. He's valuable as is, but we'd really have to think carefully about the price-tag.

[JMac1]

They should not read it, they should be busy enough playing basketball, earning millions and buying their next villas.

Also, this is a message board where FANS can discuss their team and players and post as many crazy trade ideas or "idiotic" comments as they want to.

Every man with a competitve spirit and some kind of sports experience should know what it feels like to play with "fire" and "intensity". Ever won a tough game between friends and still felt like you just won a championship? Playing sports is just a wonderful thing where everything comes together - the rush, athletism, anger, joy, decision making, passion etc. - excuse me if I thought it would be fun to discuss this hobby on an internet forum.

And I STILL hate players who roll the ball down court for no reason other than saving seconds due to time running out.
ESPECIALLY, when all they do after that is waste 10-12 seconds of the shot clock anyway.

Of course, you're entitled to your opinion and I have no problem if you get a little annoyed about some posted negativity about little things, I can get that.

Great response.

"My problem is he doesn't play with fire." What the he11 does this mean? - Do something with your lives.

If you don't know what playing with fire means then that says it all.

[charley barkles]

He definitely sets the tone for our defense. Our defense the last 5 games or so before his return was HORRID. I can't remember the exact stat, but basically it was the most games in a row where a team has allowed over 50% shooting since the 80s. Anyone remember hearing something like that?

He gets to the rim... He gets to the foul line... we play way better with him on the court, both offensively and defensively.

[Wannabe MEP]

He definitely sets the tone for our defense. Our defense the last 5 games or so before his return was HORRID.

No doubt about it.

I can't remember the exact stat, but basically it was the most games in a row where a team has allowed over 50% shooting since the 80s. Anyone remember hearing something like that?

Yes, but I always thought it was kind of a dumb stat. But we're clearly dramatically better defensively with him playing.

we play way better with him on the court, both offensively and defensively.

Well...we're really not better offensively with him on the court. But we're so much better defensively, that it's absolutely worth it.

Bledsoe-Dragic-Tucker-Frye-Plumlee is absolutely killing it since he came back. 4th of 78 lineups that have played at least 100 minutes in 2014 -- +22.6. Ridiculous.

[Wannabe MEP]

Oh, and defensively, that lineup is 2nd out of those 78

[DRK]

He doesnt push the pace, and he hardly ever penetrates with the intent to kick-out to open shooters. That's the only two knocks I have on the guy.

Other than that, he's proven that he's an all-star calibre player, and to be honest, we need all the talent we can get

[TheMoochinator]

It's shocking how quickly people become disenchanted with their shiny new toy.

Eric Bledsoe is clearly the second best player on the Suns and is:

-23
-Playing his first major minutes
-Contributing on a playoff team in loaded conference
-Averaging 17, 5.7, 4.7 on 46% shooting

He could very well likely be he best player on the suns within 1-2 years

[Revived]

My main concerns with him is that he looks like he hates the fast tempo offense and also he dribbles the ball around for 15 seconds doing nothing kinda like Harden does. Either pass the ball, move around or shoot it.

[RunDogGun]

I have no problem with Eric as long as he plays within the system, and that goes for everyone on the team. He is still coming off a bad injury, so one has to give him some recovery time.

As for the critique, it's all valid concerns, considering the money we most likely will drop on him.

[NaturalBuns]

I have no issues with him either.
Though I thought he was more athletic.
I never see this dude dunk it's extremely rare.

But no problems love his game he does push the ball.
Just not as fast as goran but he didn't play with Nash so..

[SunsFever]

So many good posts. Pro and contra.
I would have to say that that first of all out of the two guards, Goran is (in my view) clearly more important. He's just on another level running the team. Granted he's more experienced, but to me, i think he is the one more deserving of a max.

.. So it looks like there is a consensus around here that we shouldnt give him the max and that he'll probably leave this summer?

[mybloodisorange]

I agree with most of the criticisms made but keep in mind I think he can still progress offensively (as Dragic did) and his defense is already pretty good. I'm most concerned with him being injury prone while being a very agressive player. Even if he never turns into Derrick Rose those small injuries can still add up easily; and playing through those might make him less agressive limiting his effectiveness. When rebuilding from scratch I wouldnt rebuild with EB unless he has a reasonable contract; we saw what happened to Amare with his huge no injury-clause contract.

[JDLAW]

Let me pose a hypothetical to all you who think Bledsoe:

- is "too cool" and lacks some urgency and passion in certain situations;
- pouts and looks like a spoiled brat very often (on the court and bench);
- disappears when the team is playing poorly;
- jokes and chats with opponents too much even if we are getting blown out (Miami/LeBron for example);
- settles for jumpers too often;
- has very limited stamina because he has too much muscle mass (one of the most ignorant statements);
- holds the ball for the first 12 seconds while doing nothing;
- does this stupid Chris Paul "rolling the ball down the court before picking it up";
- does not "play with fire"; and,
- any other silly baseless criticism you might come up.

Are you willing to match any offer he receives on the open market?

What if the Lakers present Bledsoe with an offer sheet, which he brings back to the Suns - he has not signed it yet but will do so when the moratorium on signings is lifted. This is the only team he is in negotiations with so you cannot trade him to some other team. The Lakers have no players on their roster and have no draft choices that they can trade for the next 5 or so years. Sign and trade possibilities before he signs the offer sheet are nil. Bledsoe says, I'd rather stay in Phoenix, but I want the same contract the Lakers are willing to offer. If not, I'll sign with the Lakers and you can match the offer sheet or I'll walk.

This is likely the position the Suns will be in. It really does not matter if it is the Lakers or another team.

What are you going to do?

Let him walk to the hated division rival Lakers for nothing? or
Do you sign him for more than you want to pay him?

If you let him walk, what are you telling the fan base? The Suns are just starting to crawl out of the credibility hole they have created over the past several seasons and have just started to revive their reputation. If you are ownership, how do you rationalize a willingness to sign Eric Gordon to a max deal and not Eric Bledsoe, who in the short time he has been here has done more for this franchise than Gordon could have?

[Herman4MVP]

Never an easy decision, no matter what we think of Eric, the Suns have to consider him being a possible magnet for other players to come to Phoenix.

But I don't like the idea of overpaying ANY player when our team is playing pretty competitive with a roster filled with former misfits.

Frye, Green, Plumlee, even Marcus Morris - everyone of them is overachieving and more or less playing well above expectations, so there is hope we can continue to do so with great team chemistry and a pretty good coaching staff.

So, if another team decides to overpay for him, I would decide to move on. Goodwin and the draft should lead us to less wins but could give us an even more exciting team for years to come. We should be patient, there's still a long way from being a playoff team to a possible contender.

By the way, I have nothing against Eric personally - if Goran would have some of the originally stated flaws (and he certainly has some own aswell) I would point them out just the same way. And I have to admit, when Goran was traded back then I would have never thought he would become this good. So who knows, I'm just a fan hoping to see the Suns win a ring someday

[Frank Lee]

new coach, new team, new role, new knee.... he gets a pass on this yr. We have seen enough to know he is good. But if the bidding gets nutty, I would imagine even this FO has their ceiling. Interesting that Toronto faces the same dilemma with Lowry. I'd bet their contracts will be very similar, regardless of where they go.