What’s fallacious with Mikal Bridges? That is the query many within the NBA world are asking after one of many New York Knicks’ main offseason acquisitions went 0 of 10 from behind the arc within the staff’s preseason finale towards the Washington Wizards on Friday night time.
Bridges is a profession 37.5% shooter from downtown, and since his rookie season has by no means shot worse than 36.1%. Whilst his 3-point makes an attempt have elevated, he is remained environment friendly. Final season, he was at 37.2% on a career-high 7.2 makes an attempt per recreation with the Brooklyn Nets.
As he returned to the court docket forward of his first season with the Knicks, nevertheless, there have been issues about what gave the impression to be a brand new hitch in his shot. It was clear in taking pictures drills in addition to video games. Even Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards appeared greatly surprised after Bridges took a free throw throughout their preseason tilt on Oct. 13.
Bridges’ first few outings have been sturdy sufficient general that his poor taking pictures did not develop into a entrance web page story, however his 0 of 10 catastrophe towards the Wizards introduced it to the fore. In 4 preseason contests, he shot 2 of 19 on 3-point makes an attempt.
Talking to the media on Friday, he acknowledged tweaking his type.
“Ever since I obtained into the league, been making an attempt to repair it again to once I was in school,” Bridges stated. “So it has been seven years of simply day-after-day.
“After I got here out of school, I sort of tweaked it somewhat bit. After which my second 12 months within the league, I had the hitch, and tried to construct again from that ever since. So simply making an attempt to get it proper. Just about it.”
Whereas Bridges has by no means had the smoothest shot, it has all the time been productive, and that is what issues most. He has been particularly spectacular on catch-and-shoot alternatives. He took 5.6 catch-and-shoot 3s per recreation final season, which was the seventh-most within the league, and shot 38.4%. Among the many gamers with no less than that many makes an attempt, he was the third-most environment friendly. And that was on the Nets, who weren’t good. There was no cause to fiddle along with his shot coming into this season when he figures to get extra alternatives, and higher ones, enjoying alongside Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities.
It is nonetheless a bit early for panic stations, however it is a scenario to watch early within the season. Bridges turning into an unreliable shooter could be an actual challenge for the Knicks, who gave up 5 first-round picks to get him this summer time.
