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Biggest NBA Opening Night Overreactions on Celtics, Lakers, Bronny and More | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Biggest NBA Opening Night Overreactions on Celtics, Lakers, Bronny and More | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Mikal Bridges

Mikal BridgesBrian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

In the final days before the end of the season, Mikal Bridges’ reworked sweater became a major topic of conversation on the Internet.

His sweater was always somehow unique. He would lift the ball over his head, maybe hold it there for a split second, then flip it slightly like Rashard Lewis.

And that apparently worked quite well. In the 2020/21 season he shot 42.5 percent from deep. His career mark is 37.5 percent. And over the last two seasons, he averaged 19.9 points.

And then for some reason over the summer he seemingly exaggerated all of his sweater’s quirks and ended up with the New York Knicks with it.

Kristian Winfield @Crisplashed

Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet record together on the first day of #Knicks Training camp. Cam Payne video bombs towards the end pic.twitter.com/zM89rrWNyo

His shot suddenly looks like a Lewis-Kyle-Anderson hybrid, and he scored just 2 of 19 from long range last season. He went 0 of 5 from three games in the first half against the Celtics on opening night.

Bridges approved This adjustment was intentional and it looked like a complete disaster.

But then, in the second half on Tuesday, he just let it rip. The moment of reflection between catch and shot passed. The release suddenly went smoothly again.

He hit two three-pointers and finished the game 7 of 13 from the field. And if the entire preseason wasn’t enough to convince him to simplify things, then surely the second half should have been.

A return to form may be easier said than done. Basketball players can rejoice. But the quick, high release that made him one of the game’s best three-and-D players with the Phoenix Suns is what the Knicks need from him.

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