Knicks · Should we freak out about Bridges? (page 24)

NYKBocker wrote:

Rookie wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:We still need Bridges to play defense on Tatum and Brown. OG can only guard one of them at a time

I still think his D is overrated. When he plays hard he’s very good but he floats around playing fake D most of the time. Regardless I’m pretty much over Bridges. I could care less how he plays, he’s not worth my time

Oh man. No way. I focus on him a lot and his on ball and help defense is top notch. He has a different style than OG. OG uses length and power and quick side to side defense. Mikal defense uses length and speed and he can turn his hips quickly and on top of that his footwork for defense is elite. His footwork on defense is like Brunsons footwork on offense. If he wasn't a basketball player he would be a great cornerback.

His offense is tough to watch sometimes but it's tough to get any rhythm on 3s when you are running around defending the top offensive player on the other team. his primary offense also is the mid range and he is not getting those opportunities with Brunson and KAT. That's why his best games are when Kolek is playing. Kolek was finding him and feeding him. Kolek out of rotation then Bridges struggles.

Players struggles right now I blame the HC

I don’t focus on Bridges that much. Let’s be real, he is invisible most of the time. What I always see is that he struggles to stay in front of his man and will not fight over a screen. These are 2 things Shammet is much better at. Bridges is always looking for help and relies on his freakishly long arms way too much. Whe he is the help defender. He will not get in front of or take contact. He mostly just waves his arm at the player he is now defending as they dribble past.

It’s very odd that we are watching the same player and seeing very different things

Rookie wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:

Rookie wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:We still need Bridges to play defense on Tatum and Brown. OG can only guard one of them at a time

I still think his D is overrated. When he plays hard he’s very good but he floats around playing fake D most of the time. Regardless I’m pretty much over Bridges. I could care less how he plays, he’s not worth my time

Oh man. No way. I focus on him a lot and his on ball and help defense is top notch. He has a different style than OG. OG uses length and power and quick side to side defense. Mikal defense uses length and speed and he can turn his hips quickly and on top of that his footwork for defense is elite. His footwork on defense is like Brunsons footwork on offense. If he wasn't a basketball player he would be a great cornerback.

His offense is tough to watch sometimes but it's tough to get any rhythm on 3s when you are running around defending the top offensive player on the other team. his primary offense also is the mid range and he is not getting those opportunities with Brunson and KAT. That's why his best games are when Kolek is playing. Kolek was finding him and feeding him. Kolek out of rotation then Bridges struggles.

Players struggles right now I blame the HC

I don’t focus on Bridges that much. Let’s be real, he is invisible most of the time. What I always see is that he struggles to stay in front of his man and will not fight over a screen. These are 2 things Shammet is much better at. Bridges is always looking for help and relies on his freakishly long arms way too much. Whe he is the help defender. He will not get in front of or take contact. He mostly just waves his arm at the player he is now defending as they dribble past.

It’s very odd that we are watching the same player and seeing very different things

Not really odd. People just have different opinions. I see what you are saying though. he doesn't fight through screens. He tries to get around them.

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Even in this game tonight vs the pacers bridges just isn’t being aggressive he needs a game where we give him the green light and get his confidence up. Make him a focal point of the offense.

fitzfarm wrote:Even in this game tonight vs the pacers bridges just isn’t being aggressive he needs a game where we give him the green light and get his confidence up. Make him a focal point of the offense.

That might be the reason he had to sacrifice too. Our offense doesn't exactly " feature" players. I personally really like that we are sharing the ball instead. Bridger's is still a great player. Better than good. Don't get me wrong, I know he can ISO quite well. When we really really need a bucket I have no problem with him taking the midrange. But I would much prefer him to drain a corner three from a spray assist

Bridges also gets a lot of grenade balls.

This team is in win now mode and he is being paid. Like KAT, for a chip run these guys have to adapt and perhaps as clyde alluded to last night his touches are not as frequent thus his rythem is out not synched.
They have to do other things and perhaps its why the defense is improving?
The winning is happening.
The slow starts? well, can they really be expected to be undefeated.
Not like knicks are the only team with flaws. Not like we follow other teams to this extent.
Pistons recently lost 4 in a row. Bad teams sometimes play well too and beat other teams as well.
Also, other teams have to deal with playoff basketball and adapt as well.
In BKN Bridges was the no. 1 option and think of the touches he got. We have plenty of firepower and if the team is down with winning and they are getting paid im not too worried. They are well suited for a the grind of the playoffs and he will have his moments.
This shit happend last season and perhaps it was not well communicated well between him and Thibs. Brown is more player friendly but might be asking him to do similar stuff, but whats different is he got his bag. Maybe he does get traded if we don't get it done this year.
The 5 picks? Two are already spent and Not like they were significant. One was for BKN to eat Bogdan's contract. And lets be honest, not all picks are the same.

Is he soft? No, he is finesse. Plays hurt and the defense is there. Offensively he does disappear. So does OG. So does Kat. Good teams it happens. Is he likable? Apparently not by all fans. He is arrogant.
Funny we find reasons to hate on our guys when they get paid big and are not perfect. KAT is allstar and was allNBA last year, but we find cause. Mikal, clowns a bit after making 3's.

I think this team is on each other after the losing streak and were humbled by it. Quesiton is can it sustain thru a long playoff season?
Thats for us to witness. No clear path unless we rally like hell and win 60 games.

I am ready to go to war with Bridges. Not freaking out. He has another gear that he turns on in the playoffs

ramtour420 wrote:I am ready to go to war with Bridges. Not freaking out. He has another gear that he turns on in the playoffs

Yup

Which SG matchups has he dominated this year? I want to say none.

I welcome his blocks and steals but he doesn’t make anyone fear him.

PassTheBall wrote:Which SG matchups has he dominated this year? I want to say none.

I welcome his blocks and steals but he doesn’t make anyone fear him.

No he doesn't - he's finesse all the time and not great going over screens or in ball denial.

Now - he does have the ability to focus in and step up in playoffs and playoff series. nice thing about playoffs is 1 to 2 day breaks sometimes 3 between games for guys to recover / less travel.

I think he either got dinged up somewhere along the line and due to streak hasn't fully bounced back completely.
Also think and this could be more the issue --- for whatever reason he doesn't like the system (Brunson bouncing the ball).

Can someone explain to me what is the point of this game streak when he takes games off but makes a 6 or 23 second appearance just to pretend he played?
So meaningless.

Panos wrote:Can someone explain to me what is the point of this game streak when he takes games off but makes a 6 or 23 second appearance just to pretend he played?
So meaningless.

The decison was not to play the starters and rest them.
It was not his decison/injury/DNP. So why break the streak on him?
The point? Respect. You may not love him for what ever reasons but the streak is impressive. It has lasted thru high school and College. Never misses a game. not a cold, Tummy ache, bruise, Sprain, headache, mental health, fever, flu, covid, eye poke, nose broke, etc etc.

He has earned the right to continue it. Perhaps if he racked up these ceremonial appearences to keep it going it would be diluted. But its a meaningless game. The team wanted them to take the day off. What purpose does it do to end his streak based on that?

Panos wrote:Can someone explain to me what is the point of this game streak when he takes games off but makes a 6 or 23 second appearance just to pretend he played?
So meaningless.

Thibs this you? 35+ minutes or it don't count?

martin wrote:

Panos wrote:Can someone explain to me what is the point of this game streak when he takes games off but makes a 6 or 23 second appearance just to pretend he played?
So meaningless.

Thibs this you? 35+ minutes or it don't count?

Well.....

..... Thibs + Panos does =