Nalod wrote:Not convincing. Besides, who starts in his place?
Manu was a different cat in a different era on a really deep team.

A "benching" is not necessarily merited. There is a case to be made for Deuce to start. Lineup data for lineups with Deuce are strong in terms of net rating. The current starting lineup actually is very average in terms of its net rating. Many have brought up the need for more 3 pt volume to compete against the likes of Boston and others. Deuce brings volume and more spacing, creating more opportunities for others beside himself. He also adds more point of attack defense.

I think conventional wisdom has had people benching Hart in favor of Deuce, but you can make a case to bench Mikal instead. Mikal's offense has been pretty good when he has been more of a focal point so you can see how he might be able to lead a bench unit and get more on track offensively in that kind of formation. With Mikal often floating/less visible with KAT and Brunson out there, it may be some thing to consider.

Let it play out. Bridges is a very good two way player and would help any title contending team. He’s been here for 3 months.

ToddTT wrote:

doomed wrote:Everyone calm down what’s up with all these bedrock declarations? It’s March. Not June.

Let it play out. Bridges is a very good two way player and would help any title contending team. He’s been here for 3 months.

Should we freak out about doomed?

Just get your freak on, that’s all.

ToddTT wrote:

doomed wrote:Everyone calm down what’s up with all these bedrock declarations? It’s March. Not June.

Let it play out. Bridges is a very good two way player and would help any title contending team. He’s been here for 3 months.

Should we freak out about doomed?

I made this account in 06. We were knee deep in the Knicks wilderness back then with so many years r suffering still remaining. Knicks and their fans are in a much better place. Not so sure about other things but let’s take it one day at a time…

Rookie wrote:You think we can get 2 second rounders for Bridges in the offseason? I wonder what his extension talks look like. I don’t see him getting a big raise unless he kills in the playoffs

he doesnt really seem to want to be here, or his personality is actually worse than OGs

franco12 wrote:I kind of think you have to trade Bridges or someone on the team, try to get some size/depth back like a 1 for 2 or something like that.

We’ll see what happens in the playoffs. If Bridges plays a part in a deep playoff run. That could tip things in his favor with the FO. Although I haven’t read anything about the FO being ready to move on. Playoffs should hold a lot of weight. Not just for Bridges.

1. A coach that knows how to use him and groom him
2. A team where he’s the focal point on offense. His game doesn’t fit that robin roll.

His fadeaway is his go to move. But he’s always matched up against smaller defenders but doesn’t have the offensive bag to take care of those mismatches. Hes a finest player.

With that said, Hart or Mikal needs to come off the bench. Maybe he’s better as a 2 guard and with hart on the bench mikal will have the ball in his hands more. Or start deuce and let mikal and hart cook the bench players.

Let’s see how Thibs adjusts against the Lakers.

Panos wrote:

VDesai wrote:I know people want to be patient with this guy, but we have an offseason extention decision and we have 20 games left and we can't figure out what the heck his role is. He has show flashes of the type of play that we expected when we acquired him, but I would say the strong majority of the time he floats/is invisible. I thought he had more dimensions to his offensive game than Donte, but honestly when Jalen went out or if we were short handed, the agressiveness/willingness for Donte to take on the scoring was way more apparent than with Bridges. Josh is afraid to shoot and he's still more aggressive than Bridges.

+100

From Bleacher Report last October..

Mikal Bridges reportedly declined the New York Knicks' contract extension offer ahead of Monday's deadline. Per The Athletic's James Edwards, the Knicks offered Bridges a two-year, $60 million extension, which he opted to decline. He is entering the third year of a four-year, $90 million contract and will be a free agent after the 2025-26 season. It makes sense that the 28-year-old decided not to take the extension given he will be eligible for a four-year, $156 million deal starting next season, per Edwards. The two-year, $60 million deal was the most he was eligible for this season, Edwards also noted. Bridges has continually improved over the course of his career and could earn the entirety of the $156 million he's eligible for if he puts together a big season.

Bridges wants to get paid, but he’s not making a good case for it. I thought a few months ago that we should play out this string, since we gave up so much for him. But it sounds like he’s going to ask for the moon, and right now he clearly doesn’t deserve it.

In the end, the playoffs should decide what that FO does with Mikal. He plays like a star, pay him like one. He doesn’t live up to his asking price, see about DDV.