From preseason concerns that his jumper is in an irreparable state, to shooting 60 percent from the field and 40 percent from three through the first two regular-season games, Mikal Bridges is shaping up to be the key piece for New York.
As the Knicks were looking to solidify their starting lineup with the imminent departure of Isaiah Hartenstein to OKC, the front office knew they needed to retool their identity to compete with the Boston Celtics in the East.
Their solution involved bringing back OG Anunoby, trading for Bridges from across the East River, and eventually making another splash move to join Karl-Anthony Towns with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart in the Mecca.
By replacing Randle and Hartenstein with Bridges and Towns, the Knicks are committing to the five-out offense, creating much more space and forcing opposing centers to clear out the paint. This makes life much easier for Brunson, who has been one of the league’s best in scoring in the paint, but also for Mikal Bridges, who has been the league’s best shooter from the corner since he entered the league back in 2018.
After having a game to forget against Boston on opening night, Bridges and the Knicks came out firing and played up to their potential against Indiana on Friday. Three days after allowing an NBA-record 29 three-pointers, the Knicks would hold the Pacers to a measly 3-30 shooting from beyond the arc. Bridges was tasked with containing star Tyrese Haliburton on the defensive end, resulting in an 0-7 performance from three and an 0-8 performance overall for the fifth-year guard who averaged north of 20 points per game last season.
On the other end, Bridges was able to display much of what makes him such an exciting addition to the team. His length is tough for any defender to match up with, bundled with his high release that makes it such a lethal combination. When Bridges gets rolling, it would take multiple defenders to slow him down, but defenses cannot afford to do that on a team with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, each of which is a problem.
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Since Jalen Brunson emerged as a bonafide superstar, New York has prioritized surrounding him with the best complementary talent. Former Knick Donte DiVincenzo was a prime example of that— a long-range specialist who excels in the catch-and-shoot scenario. Mikal Bridges brings a similar game but adds a 7-foot-1 wingspan and ability to put the ball on the floor and attack.
If he can continue being aggressive and finding his open shots, on top of what he provides the team next to OG Anunoby on the defensive side, the Knicks will be a tough out every night.
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