Is Eric Bledsoe Worthy of All-Star Selection?
Eric Bledsoe may currently be on the outside-looking-in when it comes time for the NBA All-Star Game selections, but he’s not too far out.
After last year’s debacle, in which Goran Dragic was snubbed from making the Western Conference team in favor of Tony Parker, the Suns were looking to get at least one of their two point guards into the All-Star Game this year.
Dragic missed two games in mid-December that derailed him from potentially representing the Suns as his points per game has dropped by 3.6 and his assists per game has dropped by 1.9 since last season.
Bledsoe on the other hand has been healthy, for what seems like the first time in his career, and has started each game this season for Phoenix. He currently averages 16.6 PPG, 5.9 APG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5SPG, while shooting at a 44% clip.
Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) against Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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The 25-year-old Kentucky alum has scored in double-digits in 31 of the 36 games he has played. The 6’1” point guard has 27 games with at least one steal (10 games with at least three) and has at least one block in half of the games thus far. He has totaled three double-doubles and two triple-doubles in the first half of the year.
In a return to play his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers, Bledsoe arguably played the best game of his young career. The “Bled-Show” dropped 27 points, set up his teammates with 16 assists, and grabbed 11 rebounds. As if that weren’t enough, Bledsoe also had two steals and two blocks in the contest while going a perfect 9-9 from the charity stripe.
Representing the Western Conference at the guard position is a very difficult task. Bledsoe’s name will be thrown around with guys such as Stephen Curry, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson, Kobe Bryant, and Mike Conley. All of these guards are stars and deserve to represent the West.
Bledsoe will most likely not be going to New York in mid-February unless he goes on a hot streak and is somehow able to help the Suns out of the 8th seed in the West.
With the depth that the Suns roster bolsters, it is hard for one guy to stand out on a consistent basis. By not having just one key scoring option on the floor, the Suns are able to space out their offense better and are more effective as an entire unit altogether.
Is Eric Bledsoe worthy of an All-Star game nod? In my opinion, yes he is worthy, but the competition level in the Western Conference shadows the great basketball he has played for the Suns so far in the 2014-2015 season.