ATLANTA – Mikal Bridges has been a Knick for two years. So he understands what’s going to be said/written about him over the next two days.
“I’ve got to take it on the chin, handle it how I’m supposed to and be ready for the next one. You know, it’s going to suck. It is what it is. I’ve just got to be better to help my team out there.”
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That was Bridges’ response to a question about how he can bounce back from a truly forgettable game on Thursday.
The Knick wing missed all three of his shot attempts and had four turnovers in Game 3. New York was outscored by 26 in Bridges’ 20 minutes on the floor. Bridges was benched for nearly all of the second half as Mike Brown replaced him with Miles McBride.
McBride delivered in all the ways Bridges fell short: he hit five threes, had two steals and helped stabilize the Knicks defense. It obviously wasn’t enough in the end. But McBride’s performance leaves Brown and the coaching staff with an interesting decision ahead of a must-win Game 4.
Should Brown shake up his starting lineup and replace Bridges with McBride?
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The Knicks got off to a terrible start on Thursday, falling behind by as many as 13 in the first quarter. So maybe Brown and his staff believe McBride can help them avoid another start. Maybe they think Bridges can get going off the bench.
Whatever decision Brown comes to will be crucial.
The Knicks can’t afford to get off to another slow start in Game 4. A loss on Saturday would put the Knicks on the brink of a disaster.
As you know, this is a team that is supposed to reach the NBA Finals, not fall out in the first round.
A loss to the Hawks would almost certainly lead to major changes – whether they be to the roster, coaching staff or front office.
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It would also lead to heavy criticism of the decisions to trade for Bridges and Towns and fire Tom Thibodeau.
The Knicks gave up five first-round picks to acquire Bridges. Team president Leon Rose & Co. saw him as the perfect complement to their core.
They certainly didn’t see him being a non-factor in a pivotal playoff game.
But that’s what happened on Thursday. If you go back to the second half of Game 2, Bridges is 0-for-7 with four turnovers and a -37 net rating against the Hawks.
He acknowledged that it was tough to be on the bench in the fourth quarter of a close game.
“But I’ve just gotta be better so I can be out there,” Bridges said.
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In his news conference after Game 3, Brown said he believes Bridges will bounce back.
“I’m not concerned. Mikal is a pro. He’s been there,” Brown said. “He’s played hundreds of basketball games, so he’ll be fine.”
Maybe Brown is right. But the more important question is whether Bridges will be in the starting lineup on Saturday.
The answer to that may define the rest of this series – and the rest of this season – for the Knicks
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