With the 2014-15 campaign written and closed, Suns.com’s Matt Petersen takes an end-season look at each member of Phoenix’s roster heading into the summer. Key points include what went well, what could be improved, and a notable advanced stat for each player are included, as is their offseason status with the team.
MORE REVIEWS: Earl Barron | Eric Bledsoe | Reggie Bullock | Archie Goodwin | Danny Granger | Gerald Green | Brandon Knight | Alex Len | Jerel McNeal | Marcus Thornton | P.J. Tucker | T.J. Warren | Brandan Wright
Eric Bledsoe
Bio: 6-1, 195 pounds, 25 years old
History with Suns: Traded from Los Angeles Clippers to Phoenix on July 10, 2013
2014-15 stats: 34.6 mpg, 17.0 ppg, 6.1 apg, 5.2 rpg, 1.6 spg, 44.7 FG%
Offseason status: Under contract with Phoenix
What Went Well
After signing a long-term extension -- in addition to later seeing fellow guards Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas dealt away midseason -- Bledsoe became the top dog in the Suns' backcourt. He responded with career-highs in minutes, assists, rebounds and steals.
Perhaps most importantly, Bledsoe passed the better-with-him test. With him on the floor, Phoenix boasted a net rating (difference between offensive and defensive ratings) of plus-1.5. With Bledsoe sitting, Phoenix's net rating plummeted to minus-5.2.
What Could Be Improved
Hornacek is pushing for Bledsoe to develop more accuracy and confidence with his mid-range shot. That weapon would force defenders to pick their poison when defending the pick-and-roll. As it was, Bledsoe's 37.2-percent clip from mid-range allowed defenses to play him for the drive.
Ball security is the other item on the to-do list. Among starting point guards, Bledsoe committed the eighth-highest rate of turnovers in the league despite ranking 21st in usage rate. If he can decrease the turnovers and pick up his shooting -- both more than possible at just 25 years of age -- Phoenix could have one of the better up-and-coming playmakers in the league.
Notable Advanced Stat: The Suns averaged 10.7 points per game on Bledsoe drives to the bucket. That's more than points produced on drives by Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, John Wall and Stephen Curry.
Quotable: “It wasn't good enough. I need to get better as far as my leadership and mental approach to the game. There's definitely a lot of areas I need to get better at. I'm definitely going to be putting in a lot of work.” – Eric Bledsoe