When Net acquired mikal bridge Together cam johnson, Jay Crowder and several first-round draft picks from the Suns Kevin DurantThere was excitement following Bridges’ impact as an elite role player in Phoenix.
Bridges has already been a star player in leading the Nets through 15 games. The former Villanova Wildcat is in the midst of a metamorphosis and has become the team’s No. 1 option in a short amount of time.
Bridge’s performance was poor, averaging 26.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He is shooting 50 percent from the field and an excellent 44.4 percent from the three-point line.
In Phoenix, Bridges established himself as one of the premier 3-and-D wings in the NBA. He was an excellent cutter of the ball who shot well from the three-point line.
In defense, Bridges made a name for himself. He was a force to be reckoned with. The runner-up for the NBA’s 2021–22 Defensive Player of the Year award, Bridges could guard multiple positions and was often tasked with guarding elite players in the playoffs such as Lebron James And luka doncic,
Bridges has already put together a sizzling highlight reel. The win came last month against the Miami Heat, where he dropped a career-high 45 points along with eight rebounds and 5 assists. Bridges has scored 30 points on seven separate occasions. Prior to his arrival in Brooklyn, Bridges had just one 30-point performance in 365 games with the Suns.
Based on his performance with the Nets, the 26-year-old has a good shot at making an All-Star team. A month ago this did not seem possible.
One aspect of Bridges’ game that stood out to most was the number of free throws he took. Bridges has already attempted 98 free throws in 15 games with the Nets. He only took 157 freebies in 82 games last year with Phoenix.
Free-throw attempts have also been a surprise since Bridges hasn’t changed much in his shot regimen. He’s actually taking slightly fewer shots at the rim while also seeing a slight increase in midrange shot attempts.
building a bridge to the future
Bridges is not a perfect player. He can still improve his playmaking in the pick-and-roll and in isolation. According to NBA Stats, the Nets’ offense is scoring 112.9 points per 100 possessions in 519 minutes with Bridges off the floor compared to 107.7 points per 100 possessions on the floor.
There is room for improvement in his shot selection as well. Can he reach the rim higher? If he’s fouling off drives, this can really be instrumental in boosting his efficiency. Plus, can he convert some midrange attempts into shots from behind the arc? This should be the next step for Nets Bridges next season.
The next exam for Bridges as a primary option will be held after the session. The defense will lock in on the fifth-year player and it will be interesting to see if he is able to excel. In Phoenix, he was no higher than the fourth option in the team’s two playoff runs.
With Brooklyn entering Sunday as the East’s No. 6 seed at 39-31, the team still has a really good shot at making the playoffs — and, at worst, homecourt advantage in a potential play-in situation. . Although Bridges has NBA Finals experience, being a primary option in a playoff series is different and will be critical to his development.
Bridges’ first 15 games with the club have been impressive and he has solidified himself as a key building block in Brooklyn’s rebuild and a potential All-Star. He may not be the number one option if the Nets are ever able to acquire a star and return to contender status, but Bridges has shown he can be a bridge to the team’s future.
