Mike Brown’s promise to switch up the Knicks’ offense and rotation has had mixed results four games into the season, with the team at .500. The Knicks have faced a quartet of old playoff foes, coming out ahead of the Cavaliers and Celtics before losing to the Heat and Bucks in almost identical fashion. While the team has struggled to maintain momentum from half to half, Mikal Bridges has taken full advantage of his newfound opportunities, getting off to a hot start as a playmaker. But is it sustainable?
Is Mikal Bridges’ Hot Start as a Playmaker Sustainable?
A Change in Role
Despite a lower usage rate through four games than he had last year, Bridges is averaging more points (18), rebounds (6.8), and assists (4.5), while increasing his True Shooting Percentage (TS%) by nearly eight percentage points, according to ESPN advanced stats. One change has been Bridges playing the role of initiator as opposed to his primary offensive responsibilities under Tom Thibodeau, standing in the corner or curling off a screen at the elbow.
Bridges moonlighted in this role during his time in Brooklyn, playing as more of an on-ball creator on a team with limited options outside of Dennis Schröder and Spencer Dinwiddie, to limited success. His scoring went up, as did his usage rate. Still, his assists/turnover ratio and his assists percentage were lower than his time in Phoenix, when Bridges was at best a fourth option next to Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and DeAndre Ayton.
Looking at possessions used through the first week of the season, Bridges is playmaking at a comparable level to secondary creators like DeMar DeRozan and Scottie Barnes. He’s outperforming established playmakers like Franz Wagner and Brandon Ingram. He’s efficient getting his own shot and creating for others at essentially half the usage rate of his peak in Brooklyn (13.3 percent compared to 29.5 percent).
We’ve seen a version of Bridges that profiles as the perfect complement to a dominant guard like Jalen Brunson, and someone who fits the larger context of the team alongside OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and (maybe) Mitchell Robinson. Last season, Bridges with the ball in his hands was a “break in case of emergency” option rather than a staple in the offense. On a Knicks team devoid of established ball-handlers outside of Jordan Clarkson, his current shift in role is a necessity.
Sustaining this Level of Play
Mike Brown’s equal opportunity offense means Bridges should indeed be able to sustain this level of playmaking, particularly as rotations become set and the chemistry-building process becomes easier. Comparing shot charts from this season and Bridges’ best season as a scorer in 2023-24, he’s still taking the bulk of his shots at the rim or from three, but with better efficiency.
Comparing it to his most efficient season in 2020-21, he’s concentrating less on the mid-range jumpers that made up the bulk of his shot diet under Thibs and focusing more on getting a foot in the paint or finishing at the rim.
Bridges is still a knockdown shooter from the corners, shooting 83 percent so far on nine attempts. He’s been the beneficiary of the Knicks’ newfound emphasis on pace, putting his long limbs to use in the open court and turning defense into additional opportunities to get out and run.
The Knicks have conceded more three-pointers and points off turnovers than their opponents in both losses this season, areas in which Bridges has been individually strong. Bridges is fourth on the team in threes made (2.3 per game), first in shooting percentage, and second in steals (1.5 per game), according to ESPN stats.
Impact On the Court
Several times in the opening win against Cleveland, Bridges made a noticeable effort to sprint down the wing after a turnover or rebound, relentlessly pressuring backpedaling Cavs’ defenders. His approach since the opener has been to remain aggressive, even in losses to the Heat and Bucks. He’s quicker with his decision-making, shooting when he’s given an inch of space, passing out of ball-screens, in the pick-and-roll, and on the fast break.
Bridges is accomplishing this while averaging fewer turnovers and having a better assist/turnover ratio than at any point since his early years with Phoenix.
As a passer, Bridges has been a revelation. His forays into the paint have led to open threes for shooters Landry Shamet and Miles McBride. He’s been a step ahead when reading the defense and one of the prominent supporters of Mike Brown’s new offensive philosophy.
When asked by SNY about the Knicks’ potential to show teams different looks on offense, Bridges said, “I think all of us can dribble, drive, make the right read.” That answer signals an understanding that to reach the heights they envision, the team will need opposing defenses to respect someone other than Brunson as an on-ball threat.
Bridges’ improved stats have translated to added impact on the court with an offensive rating of 148. His 138.5 points per shot attempt put him in the 87th percentile for forwards this season, in the company of superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jimmy Butler, per Cleaning The Glass.
Count on Bridges keeping up this level of play if the Knicks commit to playing with pace throughout the season.
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