The Bledsoe Return...

[Absolute Zero]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...x-suns-ready-chemistry-test-eric-bledsoe.html

Looks like he's getting closer, ran some 3 on 3 and schooled Christmas. Great job by the medical/training staff. And by the players that have stepped up in his absence. Amazing that we have been able to hang tough during his absence.

 

[95pro]

we'd probably be in the mix for the 3-6 spot if he didn't get injured. its like 6 more wins that separate the the 7-8 spots from the 3-6 spots.

 

[Absolute Zero]

we'd probably be in the mix for the 3-6 spot if he didn't get injured. its like 6 more wins that separate the the 7-8 spots from the 3-6 spots.

Wow, I didn't realize we had dropped to the 8th spot. Here comes the "let's tank" talk! Looks like Portland has been dropping and Golden State and Dallas are on the rise. We'll see if this continues.

 

[Mainstreet]

Wow, I didn't realize we had dropped to the 8th spot. Here comes the "let's tank" talk! Looks like Portland has been dropping and Golden State and Dallas are on the rise. We'll see if this continues.

I do not believe in tanking but I would not be upset if the Suns dropped out of the playoff race and acquired a better draft pick.

 

[elindholm]

For what it's worth, Hollinger currently puts the Suns at 74% to make the playoffs.

 

[Catlover]

Wow, I didn't realize we had dropped to the 8th spot. Here comes the "let's tank" talk! Looks like Portland has been dropping and Golden State and Dallas are on the rise. We'll see if this continues.

We may not even need to tank to satisfy the lottery chasers. We won 14 of our last 25 games without Bledsoe which sounds okay but the other good teams probably pick up at least 21 wins against that schedule. We had a reasonable early season schedule but we're looking at probably the toughest slate of remaining games of any of the playoff contenders. The first 6 weeks of 2014 was a chance to solidify our playoff position and we failed (that's an observation not a criticism).

Eric's injury cost us a lot more than some people seem to realize when they look at that 14 - 11 record. Even if Eric comes back at full speed after a couple of games we're still going to need a little luck just to get that last ticket to the postseason. It's probably going to come down to us and Dallas although Portland is vulnerable if LMA's groin continues to slow him down. If Bledsoe doesn't come back, pick up from where he was and even improve on his play we really don't stand much of a chance to play an 83rd game IMO. This group has a lot of heart but half court play becomes more important as the season winds down and without Bledsoe we're too vulnerable in half court play, offense and defense.

 

[Catlover]

I do not believe in tanking but I would not be upset if the Suns dropped out of the playoff race and acquired a better draft pick.

I will be very disappointed if we miss the playoffs up until the moment it becomes inevitable. At which point I'm sure I'll be fine with the improved draft position.

 

[Superbone]

The Bledsoe Return...

can't come soon enough!

 

[JCSunsfan]

I will be very disappointed if we miss the playoffs up until the moment it becomes inevitable. At which point I'm sure I'll be fine with the improved draft position.

Its a "can't lose" year.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Its a "can't lose" year.

to a certain point. just because we weren't supposed to be good this year, doesn't mean that missing the playoffs doesn't suck for both this year and the future. it leaves us not getting these guys their first taste of important playoff experience AND it doesn't put us in position to get a true difference maker at the top of the draft. and not getting either of those makes for a somewhat...not useless season...but a season where the ball was only inched forward, IMO.

I don't even care if we don't win a game in the playoffs and end up run out of the gym in four games. those four games and that level of intensity will be good learning experiences moving forward for these guys. and if we don't make the playoffs, that means we probably end up pushing Minny further down the lottery, which means we don't get their pick anyway. Basically, we make the playoffs and give us a shot at 4 first rounders while getting playoff experience...or we miss the playoffs and probably only get 3 first rounders.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

to a certain point. just because we weren't supposed to be good this year, doesn't mean that missing the playoffs doesn't suck for both this year and the future. it leaves us not getting these guys their first taste of important playoff experience AND it doesn't put us in position to get a true difference maker at the top of the draft. and not getting either of those makes for a somewhat...not useless season...but a season where the ball was only inched forward, IMO.

I don't even care if we don't win a game in the playoffs and end up run out of the gym in four games. those four games and that level of intensity will be good learning experiences moving forward for these guys. and if we don't make the playoffs, that means we probably end up pushing Minny further down the lottery, which means we don't get their pick anyway. Basically, we make the playoffs and give us a shot at 4 first rounders while getting playoff experience...or we miss the playoffs and probably only get 3 first rounders.

Yeah, I still wish we could have done something for Okafor and the Indy pick.

I guess winning cures all ills. If this happened in the last few years while we were losing such a move would be getting killed by the fans.

 

[sunsfan88]

It seriously can't come soon enough, team looks horrid since the break except for the SAS game.

It needs a spark like Bledsoe.

 

[Catlover]

It seriously can't come soon enough, team looks horrid since the break except for the SAS game.

It needs a spark like Bledsoe.

We've had some good wins along the way but we haven't been all that impressive since the Clippers win. Frye has had as many bad days as he's had decent days over the past 6 weeks and Plumlee's been even worse. Goran along with Green and the Morris twins are having to carry too much of the load.

 

[Hoop Head]

I'm pretty sure 90% of Suns fans didn't expect the playoffs to be a possibility this season but since the team has had a record putting them in the playoffs all year long, with and without Bledsoe, it would hurt some to miss out on them. If we miss the playoffs the boost to our draft pick will help cushion the blow some. Making the playoffs as the 6-8th seed in the West will get us a pick somewhere around 20-22 and if we miss them we will get the 13th or 14th pick which will be a nice bump. That would be more valuable in a trade paired with another pick of ours also if we want to move up some.

 

[sunsfan88]

We've had some good wins along the way but we haven't been all that impressive since the Clippers win. Frye has had as many bad days as he's had decent days over the past 6 weeks and Plumlee's been even worse. Goran along with Green and the Morris twins are having to carry too much of the load.

Yea hopefully Bledsoe helps with that.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Bledsoe was a full participant in practice today to include some 5 on 5.

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2014/03/01/eric-bledsoe-returns-suns-practice/

 

[Mainstreet]

Bledsoe was a full participant in practice today to include some 5 on 5.

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2014/03/01/eric-bledsoe-returns-suns-practice/

This is good news. Dragic will need some help if the Suns are to make the playoffs.

 

[sunsfan88]

We need him back asap.

 

[BC867]

We need him back asap.

Ironically, Ish has paved the way for Goran to slide to Shooting Guard when playing alongside Bledsoe. And sliding back to PG when Gerald Green replaces Bledsoe in a 3-man rotation, with Ish as the standby option.

Pretty solid! 'Too bad Leandro's 10-day contract couldn't have been a 60-day contract.

 

[sunsfan88]

Ironically, Ish has paved the way for Goran to slide to Shooting Guard when playing alongside Bledsoe. And sliding back to PG when Gerald Green replaces Bledsoe in a 3-man rotation, with Ish as the standby option.

Pretty solid! 'Too bad Leandro's 10-day contract couldn't have been a 60-day contract.

Bledsoe can pretty much do everything that Ish can do but also score at a much higher level & better defender.

 

[BC867]

When Dragic and Bledsoe were playing side-by-side, it seemed that one of them would take a back seat for a quarter. I thought, "Wouldn't it be great if they could both play to their skills when on the floor together?" Goran had perhaps the bigger adjustment.

Dragic has made that adjustment playing alongside Ish. Especially after Goran's 40-point game playing a lot of "2", it should be something when Eric comes back.

Add Gerald Green to the mix as a pure "2", and that will be quite a 3-Guard rotation. With Ish standing by to step in with either Goran or Eric moving to the "2". Hot hand, match-up, defense. And Jeff is the guy to make it work well.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Bledsoe can pretty much do everything that Ish can do but also score at a much higher level & better defender.

Ish is a MUCH better passer than Bledsoe. In fact, in terms of reading the defense and delivering the ball, Ish is probably the best on the team. Bledsoe dwarfs him in just about everything else though.

 

[JS22]

Bledsoe can pretty much do everything that Ish can do but also score at a much higher level & better defender.

Actually, I think Ish is a better passer. That's about it, obviously.

 

[Mainstreet]

Interesting comment from Hornacek about Bledsoe in a Paul Coro article at azcentral dated 3-2-14.

Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe will try his second day of gradually increasing five-on-five work at practice Monday.

“I’ve tried to talk to Eric about saying you’ve got to just push through being tired because that’s the only way you’re going to get in better shape,” Hornacek said.

I wouldn't think Hornacek would need to say anything to Bledsoe about the need to get in shape. This is the NBA.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...-phoenix-suns-biggest-key.html?nclick_check=1

 

[Catlover]

Actually, I think Ish is a better passer. That's about it, obviously.

I think Ish visualizes the way a play will develop better than Bledsoe does, better than Dragic too. Unfortunately his court vision is limited because of his height. Also quickness, his greatest weapon, is rendered less effective because of his lack of a mid-range jumper. But he's a backup point guard and he's filled that role much better than many of us thought he would.