Up next for the Philadelphia 76ers is a New York Knicks team brimming with offensive talent. However, of late, Mikal Bridges has been more of a hindrance than the missing championship piece many believed he would be upon his arrival in New York in 2024. If the 76ers hope to pull off another upset, they must capitalize on his shooting slump and task Paul George with giving Bridges no room to operate.
After giving up five first-round picks, an unprotected pick swap, a second-round pick, and three players in the trade for Mikal Bridges, the New York Knicks cannot hide from the fact that this was a player they believed could transform their future. After a positive 2024-25 season with the franchise, Bridges' production has significantly decreased in his second year as he averaged 14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 stocks per game.
As the regular season wound down and the playoffs began, Mikal Bridges continued to fall short of the level the Knicks expected from a player they valued so highly just one year ago. Philadelphia should look to exploit this dip in form to gain a much-needed edge in the upcoming series.
George's defensive nous would create a living nightmare for Bridges
In the midst of Joel Embiid's miraculous recovery and Tyrese Maxey's ascendency to stardom, Paul George's two-way performances throughout the seven-game series with the Boston Celtics got pushed to the wayside. Without the veteran forward in the lineup for the critical fixtures, the 76ers would have stood little to no chance of making it to the second round of the postseason.
On the majority of possessions, George tasked himself with locking up Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, and did so with great success. While the 36-year-old may have only averaged 1.4 steals per game, his defensive impact was pivotal. His intelligence on that side of the ball allowed him to navigate screens and stay in front of his assignment, knowing that his opponent would settle for a contested three-point attempt.
George keeping Bridges in check is essential
The scouting report on Mikal Bridges will look completely different than Brown and Tatum, but the concept is similar. While Bridges will not often isolate his defender and attack the rim, he will provide the Knicks with a scoring outlet from deep. While the Knicks forward has struggled with efficiency of late, his 24-point outing in New York’s 109–100 Game 6 victory over the Atlanta Hawks showed that when Bridges finds his rhythm, he can swing the momentum of a game
While George's defensive acumen will expose Bridges' efficiency issues, it should not be forgotten that the veteran will cause his opponent a major headache on the other end of the floor. George shot a sensational 55 percent from deep throughout the Boston series, while averaging 5.7 attempts per game. If Bridges cannot formulate an effective game plan to limit George's offensive production, then New York may have to consider how much time their forward spends in the rotation.
Mikal Bridges remains an integral cog in the blueprint crafted by New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown, but in his current form, he presents the Philadelphia 76ers with a clear weakness they must exploit. Paul George has the experience and ability to capitalize on this opportunity and provide the Sixers with an edge they will desperately need heading into another high-intensity series.
Add us as a preferred source on Google