In the wake of New York’s captain and leading scorer Jalen Brunson injuring his ankle, many questions arose about how the Knicks would respond in his absence after playing 61 of their 62 games with him at the helm.
Some suggested his injury would force the Knicks to learn how to play and win without him, which would be a beneficial development as the playoffs near. One player in particular is proving this theory right — Mikal Bridges.
The starting shooting guard acquired for a bundle of first-round picks has had an up-and-down season, but he has stepped up since Brunson went down.
In his last five games, Bridges is averaging 23.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists on 63.4/47.1/95.0 shooting splits, helping the Knicks go 3-2 without their best player.
It’s been a departure from Bridges’ season averages of 17.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 48.8/35.0/72.7, stemming from newfound aggressiveness and trust in his ability to create and score. He’s looked much more like the guy New York hoped they would get when emptying their asset chest this past offseason, and the hope is he’ll continue this approach once Brunson returns and the postseason begins.
Bridges is actively seeking out his own creation opportunities, calling for more pick-and-rolls with himself as the ball handler, and putting an emphasis on getting into the paint. This has not only opened up easier close-range scoring opportunities for Bridges but more playmaking chances — an underrated part of his game.
Where Bridges used to be more connective in the offense, he’s now initiating, leveraging defenses with his scoring threat and finding open shooters and cutters. There’s an argument for him being the third-best passer on the team, and it seems he and the Knicks have realized this and taken advantage.
Another benefit of his attacking offense: he’s finally getting to the free-throw line. Bridges had previously shied away from contact, dropping his free throw attempts per game from 3.9 last year to 1.3 this season.
He’s attempted 20 free throws in the last five games; a total that he needed the previous 22 games to match. A willingness to take contact at the rim won’t just grant him free points at the stripe but will keep defenses honest and open up his mid-range game more.
Bridges’ offense was on full display against the Trail Blazers, when he scored 33 points on 13-of-21 shooting and buried the buzzer-beating three in overtime to give New York the win. What’s more, his offensive eruptions haven’t taken away from his stout defense.
New York has taken full advantage of Brunson being out to get back to its defensive roots, boasting a 104.9 defensive rating over the last five games, good for third in the league. Bridges has been a pivotal part of that despite the increase in minutes and offensive load.
The Knicks are hoping Bridges can keep up this level of play as Brunson rehabs and even once he’s back in the starting lineup. While Brunson can dominate the ball, Bridges has had many chances to take over like this in bench lineups or on nights when New York’s stars aren’t up to par, with mixed results.
This stretch could earn him some added comfort and trust to consistently bring his game to another level, which would pay dividends come the postseason. Bridges is built to be a key performer there, with defense taking precedent and offenses being pushed toward the inefficient mid-range where he thrives.
Now it’s time to show he can step up to that responsibility. So far, Bridges looks ready.
Read the full article here