Milwaukee Bucks: 5 goals for Eric Bledsoe in 2018-19 season

Re-engage into trademark defensive mentality

When Bledsoe first arrived to Milwaukee last season, some elements of his game didn’t translate instantly due to how strange his stint with the Suns ended at the start of the year.

It was on the defensive end, though, where the Birmingham native immediately provided a jolt to boost a Bucks side that was surely in need of one at that point in the season. Of course, the Bucks’ defensive issues and schematic deficiencies were never fully resolved as the season wore on and the initial spark Bledsoe provided waned over that span of time as well.

Considering the reputation he built on that end during his early days with the Clippers, Bledsoe’s defensive services haven’t stood as prominently as they once did. Some of that is to be expected, considering he acted in a reserve role and his high level athleticism has declined with the few injuries he’s picked up in the time since then.

Despite that, the moments when Bledsoe taps back into that patented bulldog mentality that we first came to know of him just show how impactful and imposing of a defender he can be when he wants to be.

Will the change in leadership from the previous coaching regime to Budenholzer and his staff flesh out that side of him again this year, or is it the uncertainty he’ll soon deal with over next summer?

Regardless of what the driving force may be behind it, Bledsoe looking to re-establish himself as one of the superior defensive point guards in the league or a high level two-way player will be one of many threads to pay attention to in his season this year.