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[SIZE=1][I]Eric Bledsoe in a March game against the Washington Wizards. Image credit: Keith Allison. [URL=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/”]Some rights reserved. [/URL][/I][/SIZE]
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The Clippers haven’t fared well in the first two games of their second round playoff match against the San Antonio Spurs. One bright spot has been former UK star Eric Bledsoe. Here’s an amazing defensive statistic. Basketball Value calculates that when Bledsoe is on the floor, [URL=”http://basketballvalue.com/teamplayers.php?year=2012%20playoffs&team=LAC”]the Clippers give up almost 12 fewer points per 100 possessions than when he’s not playing[/URL]. A Texas writer who covers the Spurs says Bledsoe has made a believer out of him, and he seems to be peaking at just the right time. Mark Travis, in an article republished on a Clippers’ fan site, writes
[QUOTE]For a second year guard…Bledsoe has done a brilliant job defensively on [Tony] Parker and Manu Ginobili. [LA Coach] Vinny Del Negro was won over by Bledsoe’s kinetic and indefatigable defensive style during the Memphis series so much so that nearly every time the Spurs put Manu Ginobili into the game, VDN calls on Bledsoe to defend him.
“He’s so athletic,” said Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro. “He’s so physical. It’s his first playoffs but I’m just so proud of Eric and the way he battles and he’s getting a feel for things a bit better. You can see his athleticism, his strength, his power out there. His speed. And he’s just getting more comfortable as he gets more of an opportunity.”
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You can read the whole thing [URL=”http://www.clipsnation.com/2012/5/19/3029845/neric-bledsoe-emerging-as-a-huge-weapn-for-the-clippers”]here.[/URL] Nice to see former Cats blossoming in the NBA playoffs.
