In a significant offseason move, the New York Knicks have added Mikal Bridges to their roster at the steep cost of five first-round draft picks. The acquisition has been part of a broader strategy to bolster the team's performance and competitiveness in the upcoming season. However, Bridges' recent struggles in the preseason have sparked conversations about whether he can regain his form in time for the regular season.
Bridges, known for his shooting prowess, endured a rough outing in the preseason finale against the Washington Wizards, missing all ten of his three-point attempts. Over the span of four preseason games, he managed to land only 2 of his 19 shots from beyond the arc. These numbers are notably below par for a player with Bridges' pedigree as a sharpshooter, raising questions and concerns among fans and analysts.
Despite this challenging preseason, Bridges' track record speaks volumes. Since entering the NBA, he has maintained a career three-point shooting percentage of 37.5%, never dipping below 36.1% in any season. Last year, he embraced an increased shooting role, attempting a career-high 7.2 three-point shots per game and connecting at a 37.2% rate—a testament to his reliability and consistency.
Moreover, Bridges excelled in catch-and-shoot situations last season, emerging as the seventh-most active player in this role, with 5.6 such attempts per game. His 38.4% conversion rate placed him third in efficiency among players attempting a similar volume of shots, proving that when in rhythm, Bridges is indeed a formidable offensive threat.
Reflecting on his shooting mechanics, Bridges shared a candid insight into his journey and ongoing challenges with his shot. "Ever since I got into the league, been trying to fix it back to when I was in college. So it's been seven years of just every day. When I came out of college, I kind of tweaked it a little bit. And then my second year in the league, I had the hitch, and tried to build back from that ever since. So just trying to get it right. Pretty much it," Bridges explained.
This quote sheds light on the ongoing adjustments Bridges has made to return to his optimal shooting form. The hitch he refers to—a common term for an irregularity or flaw in shooting mechanics—has been a focus of his development efforts. The preseason slump might well be a temporary setback rather than an enduring issue, as adjustments to shooting form can often lead to temporary inconsistencies.
For the Knicks, the investment in Bridges underscores a commitment to assembling a roster capable of competing at a high level in an increasingly demanding league. The hope is that Bridges' preseason form is merely an anomaly and that his historical consistency will prevail as the regular season unfolds.
As the Knicks prepare to embark on a new campaign, Mikal Bridges remains a crucial component of their ambitious vision. His performance will undoubtedly be under the microscope, not only because of the substantial assets exchanged for his acquisition but also due to the expectations tied to his established capabilities.
Whether Mikal Bridges can shake off his early shooting woes and deliver for the Knicks will be one of several narratives to watch closely. As the regular season approaches, many eyes will be on how he adapts and overcomes this initial hurdle, hoping that his shooting touch will return to its customary precision.