Mikal Bridges, acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Nets in the offseason, played a huge role in the Knicks’ second-round series triumph over the Celtics. He averaged 14.7 points, including 34 total points in fourth quarters, Jared Schwartz of the New York Post notes.
He also made enormous defensive stops, stealing the ball away from Jaylen Brown to end Game 1 and intercepting a Jayson Tatum pass to end Game 2. Bridges is thirsting for more as the Knicks enter the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers.
“There’s more to go,” Bridges said. “We’re not done. That’s what it is. We came out there [Friday night] to play hard and handle business, but our season’s not over. We’ve got so much more to go and we play on Wednesday, so get ready to prepare for them. Whole different team and a whole new series.”
We have more on the Knicks:
- They, of course, will be looking to avenge their second-round series loss to the Pacers last season, in which they blew a 2-0 lead in the process. However, the Knicks were riddled with injuries by that point. In contrast, New York has all its pieces entering this series, Schwartz points out. Pace and 3-point shooting will also be key components to the series.
- How did the Knicks turn into a contender? Post columnist Mike Vaccaro takes a closer look at how they were built, starting with the hires of Leon Rose as GM and Tom Thibodeau as head coach. From a roster standpoint, their zeal to sign Jalen Brunson in free agency in 2022 proved to be the pivotal decision.
- Fiery, hard-nosed wing Josh Hart has become a huge fan favorite and his popularity continues to grow, Vaccaro notes. The picture of Hart with a defiant look on his bloodied face after he caught an errant elbow epitomizes the toughness and grit of the team.
Knicks and Indy are play-in teams in the West. Wake me up when it’s over.
@arete18 About right. Knicks would have finished 8th and Pacers 11th in West. Silver has got to balance the conferences. It’s bad for the NBA. Gives New York fans something to talk about though. I am happy for knickersbockeral.
Pacers would have been tied for 3rd at 50-32.
EasyMoneySniper:
What in the world are you basing this on?
arete18:
Are you kidding? I think the teams in the east are absolutely better than the teams in the west. I think Oklahoma City is really good. Other than that, there’s not another team out west that would scare me.
Clowns who clown themselves…. just too easy
Minny has two thrown away Knicks. So the West must really suck …..
Probably held more truth a few years ago. This past year not quite as much.
14.7 a gm isn’t enough. His 18 a gm during the season isn’t enough. Knicks have a real shot at a Chip now. Mikal has got to help Jalen with the scoring. Pacers are a team that likes to run. Knicks bench better show up. And Thibs meeds to use them. Keep the starters fresher. 4 more wins ……
Four !!!!
pacers will win
unless refs put brunson at the line more often than the entire indy squad
knicks gonna flop, drop, cry and whine their way to the ft line. nothin but a bunch of fake thug foul baiters. if they win fair and square ill be the first to congratulate them. make shots, and make stops. fair and square. but indy gonna prevail. this is their year.
Bridges just needs to take the open ATB 3 pt shots he’s being handed, and hit them at his career level, and he’ll be right where I want him. KAT just needs to stop committing meaningless fouls, and he’ll be fine as well (I doubt IND will overplay him like BOS did). Add in some more immediacy across the board, and I think they’ll be fine.
The Pacers are a good team, but I can’t say they scare me. I think Brunson is the difference in this series.