Bridges has been good. The number of picks will always be a sticking point to some, but they are low-value picks when it’s all said and done, and he’s just boring good, so it’s a recipe for perceived overpay.
I'm going to take this to a different turn: Compare and Contrast Mikal vs Cade. Is there a big difference skills-wide? I feel like Mikal's shooting could enable him to score as effectively as Cade, but he's just missing the killer instinct to go out and get it. Am I wrong?
Panos wrote:I'm going to take this to a different turn: Compare and Contrast Mikal vs Cade. Is there a big difference skills-wide? I feel like Mikal's shooting could enable him to score as effectively as Cade, but he's just missing the killer instinct to go out and get it. Am I wrong?
Their roles for each of their teams are completely different so for me it's an apples and oranges comparison.
Knicks absolutely need Mikal to be a more well defined scorer. But he is not asked to do the things Cade does and therefore also doesn't have the same opportunities Cade has to show that killer instinct. Kinda sorta the same position Jalen was in when with Dallas and Doncic. Except Mikal is behind Brunson, KAT with OG and Hart almost "competing" for the next level touches.
For the Knicks to get to the next level, Mikal absolutely needs to be in move involved but he is behind coaching staff role choices and then KAT, Brunson.
martin wrote:Panos wrote:I'm going to take this to a different turn: Compare and Contrast Mikal vs Cade. Is there a big difference skills-wide? I feel like Mikal's shooting could enable him to score as effectively as Cade, but he's just missing the killer instinct to go out and get it. Am I wrong?
Their roles for each of their teams are completely different so for me it's an apples and oranges comparison.
Knicks absolutely need Mikal to be a more well defined scorer. But he is not asked to do the things Cade does and therefore also doesn't have the same opportunities Cade has to show that killer instinct. Kinda sorta the same position Jalen was in when with Dallas and Doncic. Except Mikal is behind Brunson, KAT with OG and Hart almost "competing" for the next level touches.
For the Knicks to get to the next level, Mikal absolutely needs to be in move involved but he is behind coaching staff role choices and then KAT, Brunson.
We all saw what happened when Kal had the Cade role in Brooklyn. While he had some nice stretches, he clearly isn't at Cade's level skill wise. What he can do is move without the ball and take advantage of size advantages in the paint. But it feels like the team goes through stretches where they forget about him.
Honestly, if he shot closer to 40% from 3 instead of 35%, it would make everything make more sense. The fact that he was so hot and cold from 3 and overall kinda bad there is a big contributor. If he was more reliable there this year I think the role makes way more sense. The defense now seems to have come around.
martin wrote:Panos wrote:I'm going to take this to a different turn: Compare and Contrast Mikal vs Cade. Is there a big difference skills-wide? I feel like Mikal's shooting could enable him to score as effectively as Cade, but he's just missing the killer instinct to go out and get it. Am I wrong?
Their roles for each of their teams are completely different so for me it's an apples and oranges comparison.
Knicks absolutely need Mikal to be a more well defined scorer. But he is not asked to do the things Cade does and therefore also doesn't have the same opportunities Cade has to show that killer instinct. Kinda sorta the same position Jalen was in when with Dallas and Doncic. Except Mikal is behind Brunson, KAT with OG and Hart almost "competing" for the next level touches.
For the Knicks to get to the next level, Mikal absolutely needs to be in move involved but he is behind coaching staff role choices and then KAT, Brunson.
I don't think he needs to be "behind" OG. He is more versatile and can handle the ball and should be the 3rd option. OG needs to be on the receiving end of an assist. It's there if he wants it.
Panos wrote:martin wrote:Panos wrote:I'm going to take this to a different turn: Compare and Contrast Mikal vs Cade. Is there a big difference skills-wide? I feel like Mikal's shooting could enable him to score as effectively as Cade, but he's just missing the killer instinct to go out and get it. Am I wrong?
Their roles for each of their teams are completely different so for me it's an apples and oranges comparison.
Knicks absolutely need Mikal to be a more well defined scorer. But he is not asked to do the things Cade does and therefore also doesn't have the same opportunities Cade has to show that killer instinct. Kinda sorta the same position Jalen was in when with Dallas and Doncic. Except Mikal is behind Brunson, KAT with OG and Hart almost "competing" for the next level touches.
For the Knicks to get to the next level, Mikal absolutely needs to be in move involved but he is behind coaching staff role choices and then KAT, Brunson.
I don't think he needs to be "behind" OG. He is more versatile and can handle the ball and should be the 3rd option. OG needs to be on the receiving end of an assist. It's there if he wants it.
I don't understand what the nuance of "behind OG" is but, especially this year, there is pressure on OG to step up too, probably as much as the 5 firsts things because of his contract of $40M per. OG wants to show us all that he can do things with the ball, as he told us he wanted and as he did when Brunson was out near the end of season and he turned into Kawhi for a couple of weeks.
Knicks have a ton of offensive talent. Knicks haven't yet figured out how to use it all yet and both figure out the best balance as well as how to be effective at it.
Prior to Brooklyn, I would add that Bridges has always been like the 3rd to 4th fiddle on his team. He has always had pretty darn good setup guys, pure PGs on his teams to facilitate some very good offenses.
In the years Mikal has started, pecking order of Booker, Ayton were always there. With CP3 and 1 year of prime Rubio setting things up.
IMHO to best figure out Mikal, you first need to figure out Brunson and KAT. Then you fit OG, Mikal, and Hart around those 2 guys.
Knicks have not yet done that this year.
I might be in the minority here but I think Bridges is worth what we traded away for. We needed to surround KAT and Brunson with wing defenders and we got them
NYKBocker wrote:I might be in the minority here but I think Bridges is worth what we traded away for. We needed to surround KAT and Brunson with wing defenders and we got them
I wonder if we could have traded KAT for Randle and a couple of unprotected first rounders. Kept DDV. And offered 3 first round picks for Bridges, maybe Deuce as well. Feels like we put too many eggs(picks) in one basket.
GustavBahler wrote:NYKBocker wrote:I might be in the minority here but I think Bridges is worth what we traded away for. We needed to surround KAT and Brunson with wing defenders and we got them
I wonder if we could have traded KAT for Randle and a couple of unprotected first rounders. Kept DDV. And offered 3 first round picks for Bridges, maybe Deuce as well. Feels like we put too many eggs(picks) in one basket.
No. Minny was looking specifically for DDV and then the extra contracts had to be stacked just to meet the salary exchange.
martin wrote:GustavBahler wrote:NYKBocker wrote:I might be in the minority here but I think Bridges is worth what we traded away for. We needed to surround KAT and Brunson with wing defenders and we got them
I wonder if we could have traded KAT for Randle and a couple of unprotected first rounders. Kept DDV. And offered 3 first round picks for Bridges, maybe Deuce as well. Feels like we put too many eggs(picks) in one basket.
No. Minny was looking specifically for DDV and then the extra contracts had to be stacked just to meet the salary exchange.
That’s right, they did really want DDV. Still believe 5 frps too much for anything but a star.
I think if Bridges doesn’t start the season with a storyline about fixing his form on his shot, most of this thread, and storyline gets tossed.
You probably needed to attach at least a pick to dump Bojan. Old and injured he would have been dead salary holding back year 1 of a 4 year window.
The Milwaukee pick is in the low 20s.
The Knicks pick is late 20s.
Realistically, the Nets 2026 second that we received and the Knicks 2025 1st we sent are probably 6-7 draft slots apart. Like trading the 26th pick this year for the 33rd the following year.
I don’t really see this as more than 3 FRPs for Mikal by my twisted math.
His 3pt shooting is worse than I expected. In that sense, we didn’t do as well as I hoped. But I don’t think this team prioritizes the 3 correctly. I think Mikal is a stud and worth the cost, even if the stats didn’t pan out this year.
EwingsGlass wrote:I think if Bridges doesn’t start the season with a storyline about fixing his form on his shot, most of this thread, and storyline gets tossed. You probably needed to attach at least a pick to dump Bojan. Old and injured he would have been dead salary holding back year 1 of a 4 year window.
The Milwaukee pick is in the low 20s.
The Knicks pick is late 20s.
Realistically, the Nets 2026 second that we received and the Knicks 2025 1st we sent are probably 6-7 draft slots apart. Like trading the 26th pick this year for the 33rd the following year.
I don’t really see this as more than 3 FRPs for Mikal by my twisted math.
His 3pt shooting is worse than I expected. In that sense, we didn’t do as well as I hoped. But I don’t think this team prioritizes the 3 correctly. I think Mikal is a stud and worth the cost, even if the stats didn’t pan out this year.
Agreed with most of what you said....I also think the skill set that Bridges brings to this team has been somewhat under utilized. Most of skill set played out in game 6. He is elite and super effective when he is moving off the ball into open space, not s much when he is standing around. He's great at running floor and leading the break and we saw that several times in game 6. Mikal also excells against teams that play drop coverage and he is allowed to run some pick n rolls because he is great in the mid range...we saw that when Brunson was out.....
Glad Mikal had an opportunity to redeem himself in game 6...hope we see s similar game plan for Mikal against the celts. We need his production if we are going to have a chance...
Uptown wrote:
I don't understand the direction this thread is headed. Focus, guys!
ToddTT wrote:Uptown wrote:
I don't understand the direction this thread is headed. Focus, guys!
More pics. Less talk out of you bot.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6330407...Bridges was more physical during the Pistons series than he generally has been all year, and we finally saw his defense make an impact. Question is why did it take so long?
VDesai wrote:https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6330407...Bridges was more physical during the Pistons series than he generally has been all year, and we finally saw his defense make an impact. Question is why did it take so long?
And more aggressive. Boston is one of the reasons why the FO gave up 5 frps for Bridges. A good series vs. Boston (win or lose) would go a long way in quieting the critics, myself included.
Enjoy Bridges today and perhaps those low 1st round picks need bother you.
After this season its down to three unprotected picks. Its currency that might not factor in a high pick. This is how teams built themselves. Maybe we could have done better? Another open concept to whine about. We got Randle for free, and Brunson cost us a 2nd.
Win some, regret some. Mikal you get a tangible core player. You want more stars? Who doesn't. Chips? Yeah, I want them. Many paths to get there. Maybe we do it, maybe we don't.
VDesai wrote:https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6330407...Bridges was more physical during the Pistons series than he generally has been all year, and we finally saw his defense make an impact. Question is why did it take so long?
He’s been playing good to great defense like that for the last 10 weeks, give or take. It’s been right in front of you.
