The best of Bledsoe
At his best, Bledsoe can look like one of the most impactful point guards in the NBA. He has the ability to dominate the action on both ends of the floor in a manner which can’t be said of many of his peers around the league.
As a result, many of Bledsoe’s best games often present as the complete package where he rises to the challenge of guarding elite opposition while pouring in his own share of points and creating for teammates down the other end.
Notable examples of Bledsoe doing exactly that this season can be found from games against the Warriors and Rockets.
As a place on the All-Defensive First Team suggests, Bledsoe’s defense is truly elite. The 29-year-old plays with the tenacity to hound his opponent with his on-ball defense, has the smarts to generally know when to switch or gamble for steals and when to stay put, and the sheer strength to know he’ll never be outmuscled in a matchup with a fellow point guard.
Offensively, Bledsoe still possesses tremendous straight line speed and can use his body to absorb contact and finish effectively around the league. He was one of the most efficient guards in the NBA when it came to paint scoring for the season, and there’s no reason why that shouldn’t be the case for him every year.