It was billed as a battle of highly talented backcourts, significant enough to raise a few eyebrows. National pundits and local reporters alike felt Phoenix’s strengths – namely scoring punch from the guards – might match Golden State’s just enough to end the Warriors’ 16-game winning streak.
For what it’s worth, the Suns felt the same way. Eric Bledsoe, who has meshed beautifully with Brandon Knight at the start of the season, liked the Kentucky duo’s chances against the Warrior “Splash Brothers” of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson heading into the night after Thanksgiving.
“I think both of us are competitors,” Bledsoe said of he and Knight. “At the end of the day, I think we can go out there and compete with anybody and do what it takes.”
Compete they did, combining for 42 points and 12 assists. Their early-season upset bid, however, was about as available as a Black Friday gem by 11 a.m. By the fourth quarter, the game was all but over.
Bledsoe's Special Delivery
This wasn’t because the Suns played poorly. Odds are if they were offered a guaranteed 57 points on 56.5-percent shooting every first half, they would take it every time. Ditto for Eric Bledsoe’s 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting.
No, this was simply a defending champion playing at the kind of peak level reserved for video game gurus who have the settings on “rookie.” The Warriors established a new NBA record (they’ve been doing this lately) for most three-pointers in a half (15). Stephen Curry made Suns fans weep in pain and basketball fans weep for joy.
If the former can take anything to heart, it’s this: Phoenix at least has a Warrior-like foundation in place.
Eric Bledsoe is playing All-Star level basketball every single night, something Suns Head Coach Jeff Hornacek has wanted to see since he arrived in 2013. The 6-1 speed-tank is, frankly, playing better than many of his more visible peers, including Chris Paul, John Wall and Derrick Rose.
Ditto for Brandon Knight, who has finally found a home that is more than willing to let him host parties of three-point shooting and crossover dribbles.
“You’ve got to pick your poison,” Bledsoe said. “Is it going to be me or Brandon?”
It’s a question the league is witnessing for the first time, and they’re still not completely sure how to answer. Except the Warriors, who seem to have an answer for everything.
This wasn’t always the case. The Curry/Thompson phenomenon didn’t take off until Year Four of its union. In Year One, they weren’t even a playoff team. Years Two and three saw them log a sub-.500 postseason record. Then, overnight (overyear?), they were champions.
Curry and Thompson have been fun to watch for a while, but it wasn’t until winning habits were established and maintained that they 1) became nightly must-watches and 2) they mattered in the grand NBA scheme of things.
“I think both of us are competitors. At the end of the day, I think we can go out there and compete with anybody and do what it takes.”
— Eric Bledsoe on Brandon Knight and himself
“It wouldn’t hold the same weight [without winning],” Thompson said, referring to he and Curry’s standing as an elite duo. “I definitely look at it like that. Winning is the premium in this league. When you look at the great teams, winning is everything. That’s why I consider [Manu] Ginobili and [Tony] Parker to be such a legendary backcourt. They did it so long. They won.”
Thompson and Curry take more than their fair share of lumps from Ginobili and Parker. They have lost eight of their last nine meetings against the Spurs, forced to watch as the league’s best picked them apart. On Friday, the Suns went through similar growing pains at the expense of the league’s torch-bearers at guard.
“Obviously their backcourt with Klay and Steph is probably the barometer to try to aim at,” Hornacek said.
The Suns aren’t as far off the mark as the final score indicates. That margin was dictated by other factors, especially on the defensive end. Those can be improved, especially as this team – half of which is new to the roster – settles into itself.
But square one – the foundation, really – is covered by two guards who combine to average more than 40 points per game and less than 25 years in age.
More importantly, they’re eager to lead this team in more measuring stick games to come.
“I like any challenge,” Bledsoe said. “They’re definitely the best team in the league and they’re playing well. Curry’s having another MVP season. I tip my hat to them, but at the end of the day, it’s about our team.”