If you watched only the final few minutes of Game 1 between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, you may have thought the Mikal Bridges was in the midst of a special performance.
The Villanova product swished a critical 3-pointer and made a key defensive stop in the Knicks' 108-105 overtime victory over the C's. But his holistic stat line left something to be desired. While there are several takeaways from Monday's showdown, it became apparent that Bridges could make a difference on both ends against a team whose perimeter play is second to none.
“We’re just going to keep fighting, that’s who we are,” Bridges said. “We’re not going to [give up] until the clock hits zero, and we’ve been showing it.”
How Mikal Bridges can alter Knicks' chances of upsetting Celtics
Pundits and fans have been quick to flip flop on Bridges' true influence. New York's front office has been criticized for their decision to trade a number of draft picks for the 28-year-old's services, and prior to extra time on Monday, these concerns may have been reiterated if the Knicks dropped the series opener.
Across roughly 51 minutes, Bridges went 3-of-13 from the field while collecting six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. He played a solid defensive game down the stretch, but could not consistently knock down shots. If he is able to put together a string of complete showings that include pesky defense and productive shooting.
Boston was uncharacteristically bad from range in Game 1. They made 15 out of 60 total 3-pointers and missed a number of uncontested attempts. It is not likely that the Celtics will shoot this poorly again, and the Knicks will have to do a better job of defending the 3-point line.
As one of the team's best defenders, Bridges will be essential to this effort. Further, he will need to provide a more consistent scoring output. It is not unreasonable to assume that the Celtics will zero in on Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, or OG Anunoby (who finished Game 1 with 29 points) as the second round progresses.
As a result, Bridges may get more opportunities to score or make the "extra pass" that could keep Boston on their toes. His seven assists in the opener were impressive, but it would be fair to expect more points from a player who shot 50% from the field during the regular season.
While it might still be the Celtics' series to lose, the Knicks have shown they can compete. If his offense catches up to his defensive intensity, Bridges will present questions that Boston could struggle to answer.