When the Milwaukee Bucks face the Houston Rockets on Thursday, Bucks point guard Eric Bledsoe will most likely be guarding Rockets superstar James Harden.
The Bucks defeated the Rockets last season in Houston, with Bledsoe playing terrific defense on Harden.
Bledsoe, a rugged defender, says he's ready to guard The Beard again:
“I’m up for any challenge,” Bledsoe said, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “I’m not backing down if that’s what you’re asking. James is a hell of a scorer. I can’t stop him from scoring 40, but I can make it tough on him. That’s my job – to make it tough on him.”
Arguably, no one made it tougher last season on Harden than Bledsoe and the Bucks. Harden did put up 42 points, 11 rebounds and six assists against Milwaukee in the teams’ first matchup last season, a game which the Bucks won, 116-109.
Confused?
While Harden’s numbers were noteworthy, he also turned it over nine times and did some of his offensive fireworks with Bledsoe not guarding him.
Harden was 4 of 5 on 3-point shots, 2 of 3 on two-point attempts and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line with Bledsoe sitting on the bench. Remove those 20 points from his stat line and he was just 2 of 11 from deep and 5 of 11 on other shots against Bledsoe.
Bledsoe made the First-Team All-Defensive squad last season. Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer can put Bledsoe on Harden or Russell Westbrook on Thursday.
The game is going to be a good one in Houston. It will feature the last three MVP winners: Westbrook, Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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