Mikal Bridges’ epiphany came from a bit of personal reflection.
After the Knicks win over the Raptors in Toronto last week, when Bridges scored 30 points, his answer on the MSG Network broadcast went viral for how honest he was. Bridges admitted that he was “feeling too entitled” and “wasn’t being coachable.”
That realization wasn’t prompted by the coaching staff or his teammates — it came from within.
“I think my biggest thing is being accountable, accountability,” Bridges told The Post after the win over the Lakers Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. “You spend a lot of time by yourself, so just trying to realize what I gotta do to be better. I think that was one of the big things — I wasn’t being accountable enough for things that were happening. And not me being coachable as well, as I should.”
Coach Mike Brown on Sunday claimed that he did not see those comments, but stressed that Bridges has been coachable.
Still, Bridges has noticed a shift in how he’s operating on the floor.
“It just makes you play more free,” Bridges said. “Not worrying about nothing but playing the right way.”
Miles McBride will miss his fourth straight game Tuesday against the Wizards with what the team still lists as left ankle injury management.
Mitchell Robinson is out, with it being the first leg of a back-to-back.
Whatever Brown and his staff is saying at halftime, it’s clearly working.
The Knicks have absolutely dominated second halves during their current six-game winning streak.
They recorded a net rating of 42.3 points in second halves across those six games.
That’s by far the best in the NBA during that stretch — the next closest is the Cavaliers at 19.7 points.
Compare that to first halves during that stretch, where the Knicks had a net rating of 7.1 points — eighth in the NBA.
“This is a mature group,” Brown said. “They’re competitive as well. We just tell them what we see, a lot of times they just go out and correct it. It’s more about being locked in and doing the little things, detail-wise, better, and not every other play or every few plays.”
Across this six-game win streak, opponents have shot just 41.7 percent when Jalen Brunson was the closest defender, according to NBA.com’s tracking stats.
“I feel like I’ve been better as of recently,” Brunson said after Sunday’s win. “I’m gonna give effort every single time. I’d be a below-the-rim rim protector with my charges. Just find a way to impact the game on that side of the floor as best I can.”
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