Six down for 13! Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hazlewood run riot as Delhi Capitals post lowest powerplay score in IPL history
Delhi Capitals suffer historic collapse with lowest powerplay score in IPL!
Mikal Bridges has struggled offensively in the playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, leading to his benching during crunch time. His shooting efficiency has declined, and increased turnovers have disrupted the Knicks' offensive flow.
Bridgesâ offensive struggles raise questions as Hawks series intensifies originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Once praised as one of the leagueâs most reliable two-way wings,Mikal Bridges now finds himself in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable positionâwatching crunch time from the bench for the New York Knicks. Over the last two games of the playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, he has effectively been sidelined for the final 24 minutes, a clear signal that something isnât clicking.
The most glaring issue has been his offensive production. Bridges isnât just missing shotsâheâs struggling to find rhythm altogether. His usual efficiency from mid-range and beyond the arc has dipped, and the confidence that once defined his scoring decisions appears shaken. Compounding the problem, his turnovers have crept up, disrupting offensive flow at critical moments. For a player known for steadiness, these mistakes stand out even more.
Defensively, however, Bridges hasnât been a liability. He continues to bring effort, length, and awareness on that end of the floor. But in a playoff setting, especially against a Hawks team capable of explosive scoring runs, defense alone isnât enough to justify extended minutesâparticularly when offensive possessions are being squandered.
The question now is whether benching him is the right call or an overreaction. On one hand, shortening his minutes makes sense in a results-driven playoff environment. Coaches often lean on whoever is producing in the moment, and right now, that hasnât been Bridges. On the other hand, players of his caliber typically work through slumps, and pulling him entirely from late-game situations risks damaging his confidence further.
A more balanced approach may be the answer. Instead of a full benching, selective usageâperhaps shorter bursts or matchups that play to his strengthsâcould help Bridges regain footing without putting excessive pressure on him. Playoff basketball is as much about adjustments as it is about execution.
Mikal Bridges is being benched due to his significant offensive struggles, including poor shooting efficiency and increased turnovers.
Bridges' offensive issues have raised concerns about the Knicks' ability to compete effectively against the Hawks, especially during critical moments in games.
Despite his offensive struggles, Mikal Bridges has maintained strong defensive performance, contributing effort and awareness on that end of the floor.
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Ultimately, Bridgesâ struggles are real, but so is his track record. Whether he rebounds in this series could swing not just his own narrative, but potentially the outcome against Atlanta as well.