Mikal

Bridges

For all the external concerns regarding Bridges’ start to the season, the Knicks did not seem too bothered. Their faith was rewarded on Sunday, as Bridges notched a new season-high with 31 points and tied his career-high with seven 3-pointers. He’s providing top-100 per-game value in 9-cat formats. While that isn’t on par with his Yahoo ADP (54), Bridges’ production has not fallen off a proverbial cliff. New York plays four games during the first portion of Week 7, beginning with the NBA Cup East Group A decider against Orlando on Tuesday.

The 20 points are the most in a game for Bridges since November 17, when he accounted for 21 in a win over the Nets. The 3-point shot remains a struggle for the Knicks wing, who’s making just 30.0% of his attempts, but the foul line (63.6%) is more problematic regarding fantasy value. Bridges remains ranked just outside the top 100 in per-game value, but there’s time for him to turn things around.

Providing top-75 per-game value for the season, Bridges has been a top-60 player over the last week. While his transition hasn’t gone as smoothly as Karl-Anthony Towns’s, the sky certainly isn’t falling for Bridges. The Knicks end Week 5 with a road game against the Jazz on Saturday.

Bridges and Josh Hart played the entire second half of Sunday’s game, which was needed due to Karl-Anthony Towns’ foul trouble and Jalen Brunson’s struggles. Bridges has been gradually progressing up the fantasy rankings, closing in on top 60 value in 9-cat formats. Over the last week, he’s shot 52.4% from the field and provided 4th-round value in 9-cat formats. The Knicks play three games in Week 5, hosting Washington on Monday before heading west.

For all the concern regarding Bridges’ 3-point shot, maybe he needed to see some old friends on the opposite bench. Playing against the Nets for the first time since being traded to the Knicks during the offseason, he shot 4-of-7 from three and 9-of-17 overall. Friday’s game was the second this season in which Bridges has hit 50% or better from the field and three, with the first being an October 25 win over Indiana. He’s a top-75 player with room to grow.

Bridges’s three-point shooting remains an issue, but he’s been excellent from two. He’s shooting 62.9% from inside the arc, which has helped counter the 30.8% mark from three. The field-goal percentage has weighed down his fantasy value, with Bridges ranked just outside the top 75. Many expected him to approach top 50 value, and there’s still plenty of time for that to happen. Stay patient.

Bridges didn’t have the best night shooting the basketball, going 3-of-11 from beyond the arc, but that didn’t prevent him from recording a full stat line. More concerning than the perimeter shooting is what Bridges has done at the foul line, making 50% of his attempts. However, it should be noted that he’s only attempted eight free throws thus far, so misses will be more impactful.

While Bridges’ field-goal percentage was a bit low, the overall stat line was solid regarding fantasy value. He produced two steals and two blocked shots defensively, and the six assists were also encouraging. Bridges is providing top-100 value, and that’s with the brutal first half in Boston last Tuesday.

Bridges has shot the ball well since the nightmarish first half in his official Knicks debut against the Celtics on October 22. In New York’s last two games, he’s gone a combined 17-of-27 from the field, making good use of the mid-range. On Monday, Bridges also accounted for three defensive contributions, and he appears to be getting more comfortable with his new team by the game. That’s good news for managers who have him rostered.

After a brutal first half in Boston on Tuesday, Bridges appears to have become more comfortable with his shot. On Friday, he got things going in the mid-range before stepping out on the perimeter, and that approach paid dividends in the points and field-goal percentage categories. In this lineup, Bridges is well-positioned to flourish offensively and appears to be figuring things out.