Mikal Bridges noticed the celebrations.
How may he not?
Only a few minutes after the Knicks clinched their spot within the Jap Convention finals Friday night time, Bridges watched the mayhem that was unfolding exterior Madison Sq. Backyard.
“Josh [Hart] showed me a video of a guy climbing up a light post,” Bridges mentioned. “It’s crazy man, but yeah, great for them, happy for them. Obviously I’m new here, but I just know how much New York loves their sports, especially the Knicks, so I’m just excited to be a part of it. They’re enjoying it now for us, but we have way more to go.”
Bridges has been an enormous purpose Knicks followers can have fun in that method.
Aside from a tough Recreation 5, he was sensible within the second spherical towards the Celtics.
He averaged 14.7 factors per sport throughout the six video games and was clutch in fourth quarters.
He scored 34 complete factors in fourth quarters, capturing 60 % from the sphere and 50 % from 3-point vary.
And he made a number of game-sealing performs on the defensive finish.
He stole the ball away from Jaylen Brown to finish Recreation 1 and stole Jayson Tatum’s move to finish Recreation 2.
And he has grown extra aggressive because the postseason has progressed.
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He took 91 pictures within the second spherical after taking 84 within the first spherical towards the Pistons.
Karl-Anthony Cities and OG Anunoby struggled offensively a lot of the Celtics sequence, however Bridges was in a position to assist carry a few of their scoring load.
After being eradicated by the Pacers final 12 months, the Knicks made the blockbuster commerce to amass Bridges with the aim of taking the subsequent step right into a contender.
He’s already helped them do this.
However yet one more hurdle looms.
To leap over it, the Knicks will want this model of Bridges, not the one which too typically confirmed up within the common season.
“There’s more to go,” Bridges mentioned. “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.”