Bridges Benched. Let's Talk About It.

Bridges appeared to be letting his offensive ineptitude impact his effort/intensity on the defensive end... He must increase his combativeness on both ends, even if his jumpers aren't dropping.

Final Score: Knicks 99 - Hornets 98
Record:11-8

Well, that wasn't pretty. Yet, fortunately for New York, style points are not counted in the standings—just "W's" and "L's."

At some point this season, the Knicks will lose a game on a lousy whistle or a lucky shot by an opponent. By the end of the season, the victories and defeats tend to even out.

Yes, there were excuses available (it was NY's fifth game of a five-game, 11-day road trip and a noon start the day after Thanksgiving), but make no mistake, this was as ugly as a win can get. Charlotte was playing without their best player (LaMelo Ball), two other starters (Miles Bridges and Mark Williams) and three of their most important reserves (Nick Richards, Tre Mann and Grant Williams). Charlotte trotted out a collection of G Leaguers and journeymen, yet somehow, they took a lead into halftime and very nearly pulled off the colossal upset.

Fortunately for New York, they have Jalen Brunson on their side. He put the Knicks on his back down the stretch, carrying them past the finish line.

However, after the game, no one was talking about Brunson's guts or OG Anunoby's defense on Brandon Miller. The focus of the fanbase and Knicks reporters down in Charlotte was a player who spent the vast majority of the fourth quarter on the bench.

As you guys know, I've preached patience regarding Mikal Bridges despite his lackluster production over the first few weeks of the season. Even though his shot wasn't dropping, and he was not nearly as impactful defensively as fans and the front office had hoped, Bridges was still playing with noticeable joy and enthusiasm. He wasn't shying away from shots, even chucking halfcourt heaves, unconcerned with how they would impact his FG percentage.

Yet, over the Knicks' past two games, it seems the stress and weight of his prolonged slump has taken a toll. We saw glimpses of it Wednesday during the debacle in Dallas, and I thought it was painfully apparent that Bridges was exhibiting bad body language Friday vs. the Hornets.

Bridges' stats were certainly uninspiring, as he finished with just eight points, two rebounds, and two assists on 3-of-10 shooting vs. Charlotte. But even those disappointing digits don't tell the whole story.

His shoulders sometimes slumped a bit after misses. The former DPOY runner-up was meekly dying on screens. Bridges made an inexcusably dumb turnover on an inbound pass at the end of the first half. He wasn't sprinting back after unsuccessful offensive trips.

For the first time, Bridges appeared to be letting his offensive ineptitude impact his effort/intensity on the defensive end.

Four of the Knicks' five starters posted positive plus-minus numbers Friday afternoon, but New York was outscored by 14 points in the 37 minutes Bridges was on the court.

We know about his shooting woes (Bridges has sunk below 31% from downtown and is 12-of-60 on above-the-break 3PTs), but his lack of aggression on both ends has been particularly jarring. Not only has Bridges' point-of-attack defense been nonexistent at times, but he is also shying away from contact on the offensive end.

Despite logging 724 minutes this season (he's the only player in the NBA averaging more than 38 minutes per game), Bridges has attempted a grand total of just 13 free throws. Heading into Friday afternoon, Bridges had not made a free throw in 13 of the Knicks' previous 14 games!

He has also committed shockingly few fouls. In the 576 minutes he logged in November, Bridges has committed only 15 personal fouls. He's simply not making opponents feel/fear him.

Every NBA player who has logged 500+ minutes this month has attempted more than 20 free throws, except for Bridges, who has just six FT attempts.

Every player who has logged 500+ minutes in November has committed more than 20 fouls this month, except for Bridges, who has been whistled for just 15 personal fouls.

Every player who has logged 500+ minutes this month has drawn more than 25 fouls, except for Bridges, who has drawn just 15.

Bridges has yet to draw a single charge this entire season.

It goes without saying that this is not what New York had in mind when they traded five first-round picks for a player routinely recognized as the "best role player in the NBA."

Bridges must dramatically increase his combativeness on both ends, regardless of whether his jumpers are dropping.

All things considered, it was not the least bit surprising that Tom Thibodeau decided to go with Miles McBride down the stretch on Friday. McBride rewarded the decision by knocking down two clutch buckets. It was the second time over the past ten days that Thibs leaned on Deuce instead of Bridges in the final frame of a close game.

The good news, and the reality, is that we are less than 20 games into what Leon Rose and Thibs hope will be a long, fruitful Knicks career for Bridges.

He is not the first athlete to struggle while attempting to adjust to the bright lights of Broadway after arriving via a blockbuster trade or free agency. The pressure of playing at the Mecca (the Barclays in Brooklyn is off-off-Broadway) can be awfully difficult to deal with, as is knowing that the franchise sacrificed an incredible amount of draft capital to bring you across the river. And logging more than 38 minutes a night is not easy, even for an extremely well-conditioned performer who has not missed a basketball game since the Obama administration.