As for Mikal Bridges, he has quickly established himself as an indispensable player for the New York Knicks. Now they’re preparing to face the Boston Celtics. After being acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in a rare crosstown deal, Bridges has made significant contributions on both offense and defense. His defensive ability is evident by his overall body of work defending high-level offensive players. Accompanied by recent statistics to back up his talents, he is an indispensable weapon for the Knicks during their win-or-go-home duel with Eastern Conference foes.
Bridges placed second in voting for the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award. Maybe most importantly, he’s proven he can face down the league’s most prolific wing scoring threats with bravado. During his career, he’s notoriously defended superstars like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Jayson Tatum. This season, he faced an almost unimaginable 50 pick and rolls in one game. Consequently, he is now on pace to log the most screens to be navigated in any game this season. The Knicks depend on him to be their main point-of-attack stopper, essential in keeping opponents out of the paint and short-circuiting their scoring opportunities.
Since joining the Knicks, Bridges has simply been asked to do too much with the absence of Jalen Brunson on offense. His points per game has skyrocketed from 17 ppg to 20.5 ppg. One area he’s made drastic improvement this year has been his midrange shooting. With a highly efficient 50.7% success rate, he sits third among all volume shooters in the entire league. His ability to contribute points while maintaining defensive responsibilities makes him an essential component of the Knicks’ strategy against the Celtics.
As a demonstration of their commitment to winning, the Knicks acquired Bridges in return for five first-round picks. His significance is underscored by his reputation as the modern-day ironman in the NBA, having played 556 consecutive games to start his career. Though he has been remarkably durable, Bridges often sits hunched at his locker with gigantic ice bags on both knees. This routine amplifies the physical cost of his all-or-nothing playing style.
Bridges and fellow teammate OG Anunoby have become known for their effectiveness in limiting 3-point shooting. This is an area where the Celtics excel. They have both been blazing in corner 3-point attempts this season, Bridges ranking 1st with 219 attempts and Anunoby ranking 2nd with 216. Their work on the defensive end will be key as they look ahead to one of the league’s most high-flying attacks.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, a defensive wizard in his own right, admitted the futility of trying to defend an elite team like the Celtics. He continued, “You’re asking these players to protect the paint while defending the three-point line, particularly in these five-out scenarios. And then when the ball is shot, to then pursue the ball and rebound. This highlights the demands placed on players like Bridges and Anunoby as they navigate the challenges presented by their opponents.
As the Knicks prepare to take on Boston, their teammates hopeful that Bridges’ presence will make them look better than they actually are. Josh Hart emphasized the need to feature both Bridges and Anunoby more prominently within their play style: “Our play style obviously highlights Jalen and KAT. I think at times we can feature OG and Mikal a little more.” That appreciation seems to come from a clearer understanding of Bridges’ two-way skills on either end of the court.
Jalen Brunson expressed confidence in Bridges’ abilities, stating, “I never really lost any faith because I’ve known him for so long.” As they prepare for the most important game of their season, trust among teammates is imperative. This game could have significant implications for both teams on playoff seeding.
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