SAN ANTONIO — Three games into New York’s first-round series against Atlanta and Mikal Bridges had to be wondering if this was finally how it ended. After shooting 3 of 10 in a Game 2 defeat, Bridges followed it up with an 0-fer in a double-digit loss in Game 3. The Knicks were two games away from elimination. And fans, frustrated by Bridges’s inconsistency and furious over the price (five first-round picks) they paid for it two years ago, were ready to send him packing.
A month later, the Knicks are in the NBA Finals. Bridges is among the reasons why. He averaged 16.6 points during New York’s 11-game winning streak through the conference playoffs, connecting on 62.6% of his shots. During that stretch, he shot 37.5% from three. Defensively, Bridges locked up Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson, stymied Tyrese Maxey and Paul George and hounded James Harden. In Game 1 against San Antonio, Bridges was part of the defensive effort that limited the Spurs to 36% shooting, including 25.6% from three.
