Quite a lot of the discuss heading into the Knicks’ first-round collection towards the Pistons has been about Mikal Bridges’ protection on Cade Cunningham. But it surely’s his offense that may very well be the X issue on this collection.
The Knicks traded for Bridges and Karl-Anthony Cities partly to assist take the load off Jalen Brunson after he scored 40-plus factors in 5 playoff video games final yr — they usually wanted each little bit of it whereas feeling the pressure of a depleted roster.
Offensively, Bridges has had a bizarre season with the Knicks.
He’s been streaky from deep, taking pictures an underwhelming 35.4 p.c, his lowest clip from 3-point vary since his rookie season.
Bridges has solely shot 30.5 p.c on 3s above the important thing compared to 42.5 p.c from the corners, in accordance with NBA.com.
Bridges didn’t put a lot strain on the rim, both. Regardless of main the NBA in minutes performed, Bridges solely tried 118 free throws — or 1.4 per recreation.
However, Bridges was one of the crucial environment friendly midrange shooters within the NBA this season.
The analytics say it’s powerful to win video games with these makes an attempt making up a heavy part of a participant’s shot food regimen. Bridges, although, believes in any other case, particularly in the case of the playoffs.
“It’s tougher to get to the rim, it’s tougher to get 3s off, and it’s just like so much of the court left,” Bridges stated Thursday. “It’s not just the rim and the 3. You pay guys a lot of money to protect the rim and stuff like that. So it’s like going into their habitat if you’re just willing to go in there while they’re waiting for you. … Being a three-level scorer — being able to get to the rim, being able to get to a midrange shot if everything is packed up and they guard it there, or they’re all in the paint, shooting the 3. So I think that is a big part, especially in the playoffs, too.”
Attacking the rim towards a younger Pistons staff that’s racked up the league’s fourth-most fouls this season could also be helpful to the Knicks.
Getting gamers into foul bother and rattled may very well be detrimental to a staff made up of playoff first-timers.
With all the eye on Brunson, Bridges ought to have alternatives for catch-and-shoot 3s.
The Knicks might want to shoot extra 3s within the playoffs than they did within the common season, once they ranked twenty seventh in makes an attempt.
Bridges has proven the flexibility to be a high-volume and environment friendly 3-point shooter previously.
The Knicks may have that model of Bridges now greater than ever.
