Phoenix Suns: 5 goals for Eric Bledsoe in 2017-18

Heading into his fifth season as the starting point guard of the Phoenix Suns, here’s a look at five realistic goals for Eric Bledsoe in 2017-18.

Expectations for the Phoenix Suns are low as the franchise enters its 50th season without a championship. Additional patience will be required for an incredibly young core that includes 11 players who are 24 years or younger, but for one veteran in the midst of his prime, that may be a difficult pill to swallow.

Entering his eighth NBA season, the 27-year-old Eric Bledsoe approaches his 28th birthday in December with only 17 playoff games to his name — all of which came back when he was backing up Chris Paul off the bench for the Los Angeles Clippers.

It’s been seven years since the Suns have made the postseason, and that drought doesn’t appear likely to end in 2017-18 despite Bledsoe being back on the floor, Devin Booker looking poised to make the leap in year three and promising rookie Josh Jackson entering the fold.

This team is still extremely inexperienced, which means Bledsoe’s impressive two-way talents may have to waste away on a rebuilding effort for yet another season. Coming off yet another career year that resulted in being shut down for the final 15 games of the 2016-17 campaign and a 24-win season overall, the outlook appears gloomy on the surface.

However, there are still plenty of tangible goals the Suns’ starting point guard can set for himself and for the good of the team. Bearing all this in mind, here’s a look at five realistic goals for Eric Bledsoe in 2017-18.