Fansided

NBA Tank Rankings: Why do bad games happen to bad teams?

By Matt Rutkowski

Feb 9, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe falls against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the fourth quarter at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Thunder 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe falls against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the fourth quarter at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Thunder 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Phoenix Suns

Eric Bledsoe’s Season
October 26, 2016 – March 12, 2017
“And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”

Eric Bledsoe’s Season was born on a warm autumn evening in Phoenix, Arizona, and it only got worse from there.

He was an eager season from the beginning. His eyes were bright and his hair was fire although not in a literal sense. He knew he would be shouldering starting the starting point guard role like Atlas shouldered the globe. Globes aren’t that heavy anyway, but trust me. This is a big deal. He was the first and last line of defense against a starting Brandon Knight, and no one wanted that. Maybe Brandon did, but we never asked him. We don’t like talking to Brandon.

I remember Eric Bledsoe’s Season’s first day of Kindergarten. He didn’t hesitate before running into the hall to run over a smaller point guard for fun. Eric Bledsoe’s Season was always a tough kid. He made us all very proud.

But seasons are social beings, and one cannot always be in charge of their surroundings. Eric Bledsoe’s Season fell in with a bad crowd. Devin Booker’s Season, Alex Len’s Season, and Marquese Chriss’ Rookie Year were always there. They would push, and prod, and peer pressure Eric Bledsoe’s Season into bad decisions like “playing basketball with them” and “continuing to exist.” This lead to a poor permanent record, and derision from people who write mean Top Five lists.

But let’s not remember these things. Let’s remember the triple double, the 41 point night, the time he took 11 3-pointers for fun. His season might be gone, but his legacy will live on to lottery night. Then we can forget that too.

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