Mikal Bridges outplayed Utah’s Lauri Markkanen, the favorite for the Most Improved Player award, in the Nets’ one-point win over the Jazz on Sunday. So why shouldn’t Bridges get consideration for the award? Brian Lewis of the New York Post makes that point.
Bridges has delivered 11 30-point games for the Nets, including three in his last four, after posting just two in 365 games before the Suns traded him. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday.
We have more on the New York teams:
- The Knicks have exceeded expectations and their future is bright, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic. Jalen Brunson has been better than anyone anticipated, Julius Randle had a bounce-back campaign and some of their younger players have stepped up. They also have the means to get even better in the future, considering that no top-eight team in either conference has the surplus of first-round picks they do.
- Is there a silver lining to Randle’s left ankle injury? Chris Herring of Sports Illustrated explores that topic and believes — assuming Randle can come back close to full strength once he’s reevaluated next week — it could be a blessing in disguise. In the midst of the Knicks’ current four-game winning streak, other players have filled the scoring void, including Josh Hart, Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley. That should give Randle more trust in those players than he had in the offensively challenged group around him in the Knicks’ last playoff journey.
- Speaking of Toppin, he could be auditioning for an extension this offseason while filling in for Randle, Jared Schwartz of the New York Post notes. He has scored 33 points in his first two starts this season. “Just playing to his strengths,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Every player has strengths, every player has weaknesses. Stay away from your weaknesses, play to your strengths, understand who you are playing with.”
No way we extend toppin. Will be part of a package with RJ, we will resign IQ
We need to keep Obi! Whenever he is in the lineup he elevated the transition game and the pace is faster. He has a variety of ways to score whether it be via alley pop dunks, 3 pointers, or even driving to the basket. The only players I would look to trade to get an all star would be Randle, Mitch and possibly even RJ. Otherwise I would keep the current roster and use our draft picks to find gems in the draft because we draft very well. We have a deep team including Josh Hart, Hartenstein, Quckly including his defense, and even McBride although he tends to shoot his threes too hard.
Hart was a great pickup and he adds to our rebounding and if you’ve noticed we win when we outrebound the other team and for Hart as a guard/Amal forward to average 7-8 rebounds a game is just plain icing on the cake. I predict an eastern co Terence finals appearance with next year reaching the finals with this squad and whomever we find I. The draft.
Obi may want more money and opportunity than the Knicks will be willing to give him. Can’t see a deal making sense for either side.
So long as Randle is in town, that’s just the way it is.
Thibs is a smart coach, and squeezes more out of marginal players than any coach in the league. Pops takes talented players who are limited and increases their understanding of the game. Thibs just gets guys to work harder and play to the best of their skills. Thibs raises the floor, Pops raises the ceiling.
Wow ahahahaha. I mean I’m all for giving credit where credit is due but cmon. If you said Thibs gets guys to work harder at any point of the season last year, you would be laughed out of the comments. Thibs is a fine coach but saying he “raises the floor” for all the guys on his roster is well beyond a stretch
@stevep
‘Thibs drains his players and kills them off just in time for the playoffs.’
There, fixed it for you. And comparing Thibs and Pops in the same sentence is insane. Don’t do that again. Ever.
Shhh.
@stevep- u nailed that with a hammer!