Milwaukee Bucks 2017-18 Season Review: Eric Bledsoe

Summer focus and final grade

Having arrived at the start of the season, Bledsoe never had an offseason to focus on playing with the Bucks and meshing with his teammates.

Not being a part of a team’s training camp is generally a major disadvantage, and the hope will be Bledsoe can display a better understanding with his teammates in the future.

The Alabama native was asked in exit interviews whether his offseason work would be influenced by the play-styles of his teammates and Bledsoe gave a clear indication that it would be.

"“I mean, it definitely does because you’re working on shots you’re going to get in the real game. Taking a lot of time working on that. You know, spot-ups, [with] Giannis [Antetokounmpo] and Khris [Middleton] handling the ball a lot, being in spot-up situations. And I thought I did a great job of knocking down the shot when it was passed to me, but being more of a threat in that area. Just picking my spots during the game.”"

As for assessing Bledsoe’s season, there’s a lot to unpack before arriving at an overall conclusion.

The veteran point guard largely delivered on what was expected of him during the regular season, adding an extra dimension to the Bucks’ options on both ends of the floor, and generally producing consistently positive performances.

Then the playoffs happened, and it’s impossible to overlook the meltdown of sorts Bledsoe had in the most important moments of the season. Rozier is very good, but if he gets in your head to the extent he did with Bledsoe, the problem is more about you than it is about him.

Bledsoe’s play plummeted to previously unseen lows with laughable defensive possessions and a disappearance of sorts on the offensive end. In a series that was decided by the finest of margins, it’s hard not to look at Bledsoe’s sub-par play and ill-advised off-court quotes as a key difference-maker that worked against the Bucks.

The upcoming season will be a contract year for Bledsoe, and in all honesty, the Bucks may decide to try and cash in early on him via the trade market. If that doesn’t come into play and Bledsoe is in Milwaukee on opening night, he’ll have a lot of people to win over next season.

This was mostly a very good season, but a playoff display as poor and unsavory as his was can’t be simply glossed over.

BTBP Final Grade: B-

Next: Bucks 2017-18 Season Review: Sterling Brown

Make sure you stick with us over the coming days and weeks as we review the rest of the Bucks’ seasons individually.