The New York Knicks were due to enter the 2026-27 season on the back of a phenomenal title-winning campaign, helping the franchise erase 53 years of longing and etch their names in history. While there is much motivation to be drawn from this, the first month of action has been anything but a cakewalk.
With a 6-5 record, which includes a 0-3 start to the season, the Knicks are clearly reeling from a championship hangover. Although New York appeared to have found its form recently after going on a four-game winning streak, they were quickly brought back down after a 115-107 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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On the face of it, the Knicks seem to be staying afloat. However, one could argue that Mikal Bridges’ poor form this season could be the reason New York isn’t hitting its stride. To that end, during a recent interview with Heavy’s Sean Deveney, an anonymous scout even suggested that the forward be moved to a bench role, stating:
“I think with a lot of those guys, there is rust. With Mikal, it is something different. You can see everyone else getting back into the NBA season, but he just is not. They need to think about sitting him until he gets it figured out.”
In all fairness, the scout’s assessment of Mikal Bridges isn’t an overreaction. During his stint with the Knicks, Bridges established himself as a reliable offensive threat and a key presence on the defensive end.
For the most part, last season’s averages of 14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 49.0% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range perfectly captured his impact.
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Unfortunately, this season, Mikal Bridges seems to have regressed in ways that go beyond explanation. With averages of 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.9 steals on 32.9% shooting from the field and 26.5% from deep, his current form can only be deemed a slump.
So, would it be appropriate to move him to the bench?
Should The Knicks Move Mikal Bridges To The Bench?
At this juncture, moving Mikal Bridges into a bench role could be the best move not only for the team but also for the forward.
As a starter, Bridges’ influence on the game has been dramatically reduced. Although he continues to contribute defensively, his offensive rating of 100.7, which ranks 381st in the NBA, does not bode well for the team.
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Currently, the Knicks remain one of the top defensive teams in the league, ranking sixth in defensive rating (109.0). But given the need to bolster their overall offensive production, New York may see value in making some adjustments to their rotations.
Moving Mikal Bridges to the bench would give New York significant flexibility to experiment with different lineups.
If they choose to prioritize perimeter shooting, upgrading a player like Miles McBride or Landry Shamet would not be out of the question. Both players have proven themselves as capable shooters. With Josh Hart‘s rebounding upside, New York wouldn’t have to worry as much about losing out on the size advantage either.
Alternatively, the Knicks can opt to go big by moving Karl-Anthony Towns into the power forward role and pushing Andre Drummond or James Wiseman into the starting center spot.
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This could be an interesting dynamic, as both Wiseman and Drummond have largely different playing styles. But given Towns’ versatility on offense, both combinations have the potential to yield success for the Knicks.
New York clearly possesses the roster depth to thrive even with Mikal Bridges on the bench. On a more positive note, if the forward begins to find his groove in a reduced role, the Knicks could also benefit from the added second-unit production.
All things considered, this has the potential to be a win-win move for the franchise if they approach this situation the right way.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
