Bledsoe is finding his stride, 3-point shot
SALT LAKE CITY – Just because Eric Bledsoe has his jumper going does not mean his 3-point shot is falling.
His shooting touch may be one and the same but the athleticism that Bledsoe uses for bounce on his pull-up jumpers and mid-range runners is not necessary on his 3-pointers.
Bledsoe is strong enough to hoist 3pointers with a set shot off his toes. He often can get the shot himself, dribbling in transition or off of a screen, but he also often is set up for his soft-release 3s by backcourt mate Devin Booker’s swing or dribble kick-out passes.
Bledsoe showed last season that 3point accuracy could be as strong as his shoulders and arms that launch them. He made 37.1 percent of his 3-point tries but his season ended after 31 games because of knee surgery. Being shut down from basketball scrimmaging until September, Bledsoe did not emerge this season with the same touch. He made only 26.2 percent of his 3s through the Suns’ first 16 games. Since then, Bledsoe was 11 for 24 on 3s heading into Tuesday’s game at Utah.
“I’ve been working on my jumper all summer because I know I can get to the rim,” Bledsoe said. “Once I get those to fall, there’s going to be some problems.”
Bledsoe took 3-pointers twice as often when he first arrived in Phoenix in 2013 and has increased his frequency to nearly five 3-point shots every 36 minutes of play. He made a career-high five 3-pointers in Saturday’s loss to Golden State.
“I’m more confident now,” said Bledsoe, who turns 27 on Friday. “Once you get older, you can always develop the skill to shoot.”
Bledsoe’s all-around game has been strong, although he will not acknowledge that as long as the team is losing. He entered Tuesday with seven consecutive games of at least five rebounds and a career-high season average of 5.9 rebounds. In the previous three games, his assist-to-turnover ratio issues have been non-existent with 14 assists and only five turnovers.
“We have to remember Bled didn’t play since December so he’s going to continue to get better,” Suns coach Earl Watson said. “He’s developing as well, getting back into rhythm and getting into game shape.
“You’re seeing Bled come ... back into form. We love what he is doing. He’s being a vocal leader. He’s taking steps in the right direction.”
Nod to the slow build
Watson was playing for Utah the last time the Jazz made the playoffs (2012-13) and when Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Alec Burks were rookies in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
They are the only players remaining from those teams as Utah kept those core pieces and added more in later drafts (Rudy Gobert, Rodney Hood, Dante Exum and Trey Lyles) while letting go of mainstays Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson.
Watson did not draw a direct correlation to the patience that might be needed for the Suns and their young pieces but he was complimentary of the Jazz.
“They were very strategic in saying, ‘We have a young core. We have to eliminate some of our young core to make the next step and it’s not going to be popular. But in a couple seasons, we’ll bring in a (Boris) Diaw, Joe Johnson, George Hill and then we mixed in season young guys,’ “Watson said. “Now you have a great blend ... .
“They’re the only team that embraced the process without publicly saying embrace the process.”
Utah now is on pace to have its best record since 2009-10, when the Jazz reached the Western Conference semifinals in Jerry Sloan’s last full season.
“They have a young group that they developed over the last eight years,” Watson said. “They’re finally coming into their own where they have a chance to make the playoffs. So the process for them has been a long time as well. They’re just more discreet about it.”
Free throws
After Tuesday’s games, the Suns are