Mikal Bridges’ epiphany came from a bit of personal reflection.
After the Knicks defeated the Raptors last week in Toronto, when Bridges scored 30 points, his response on the MSG Network broadcast about how honest he was was going viral. Bridges admitted he “felt too entitled” and “wasn’t coachable.”
That realization wasn’t prompted by the coaching staff or his teammates; it came from within.
“I think my biggest thing is responsibility, accountability,” Bridges told The Post after Sunday night’s win over the Lakers at Madison Square Garden. “You spend a lot of time alone, so just trying to realize what I need to do to get better. I think that was one of the big things: I wasn’t responsible enough for the things that were happening. And I wasn’t as coachable as I should have been.”
Coach Mike Brown claimed Sunday that he had not seen those comments but emphasized that Bridges has been coachable.
Still, Bridges has noticed a change in the way he operates on the floor.
“It just makes you play more freely,” Bridges said. “I don’t have to worry about anything but playing the right way.”
Miles McBride will miss his fourth straight game against the Wizards on Tuesday with what the team is still calling management of left ankle injuries.
Mitchell Robinson is out as it is the first leg of a back-to-back.
Whatever Brown and his staff say at halftime is clearly working.
The Knicks have absolutely dominated the second half during their current six-game winning streak.
They had a net score of 42.3 points in the second half of those six games.
That’s easily the best in the NBA over that stretch — the next closest are the Cavaliers at 19.7 points.
Compare that to the 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 also competitive. We just tell them what we see, often they just go out and correct it. It’s more about being locked in and doing the little things, detailed, better, and not playing every other game or pair.”
During this six-game winning streak, opponents have shot just 41.7 percent when Jalen Brunson has been the closest defender, according to NBA.com tracking stats.
“I feel like I’ve been better lately,” Brunson said after Sunday’s win. “I’m going to do my best every time. I was going to be a rim protector under the rim with my offense. Just find a way to impact the game on that side of the floor as much as possible.”
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