The Knicks didn’t just trade five draft picks for Mikal Bridges because of his Villanova bond with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. They did it because they believed his defensive versatility and playoff poise could tip the scales in a series against the defending champion Boston Celtics.
Now comes the test.
The Knicks are walking into a second-round series against the most efficient offense in the NBA. And if OG Anunoby can mirror the impact he had neutralizing Cade Cunningham in Round 1 — this time against Finals MVP Jayson Tatum — the ball will inevitably swing to Jaylen Brown.
That’s where Bridges comes in. Win the Brown matchup, and the Knicks — long-shot underdogs by every metric — will have a real shot at shaking up the East.
“He’s a key part of our team. It’s all around — all the things that he brings,” said head coach Tom Thibodeau. “Secondary ball handler also, but his defense, his ability to run the floor, move without the ball, make timely shots, terrific three-point shooter from the corners. Just keep doing what you’re doing. It’s been a steady climb for him. This will be a great challenge for not only him, but our entire team.”
**
Ask his teammates or coach, and they’ll tell you: Bridges doesn’t shrink under pressure. But this is New York. Expectations stretch wider and the lights burn hotter.
Five first-round picks typically buy a franchise cornerstone. Bridges is a star — but in his role, not the headliner. And with up-and-down shooting nights and the burden of guarding All-Stars every night, the scrutiny followed.
If it’s affected him, Thibodeau hasn’t seen it.
“He’s got a great demeanor. That’s one of the things you really like about him,” said Thibodeau. “I think for anybody who gets traded or [changes teams] in free agency or whatever it might be, there’s an adjustment period that you have to go through, and it takes some time. But I think he’s very confident in his abilities. It’s not like he just got to the league. He’s got a great body of work. I think he’s a confident player because of the work that he puts in. So it’s been a steady climb for him, and I think it’ll continue to get better.”
Of course, in a season as dissected as this one, it’s hard to dodge the microscope. Bridges — as the team’s point-of-attack defender — became an easy target while Mitchell Robinson missed most of the season with injury.
“People are free to have their opinions and judge whoever they want,” said Brunson. “It’s all about how we perceive each other in the locker room, how we make sure everyone is on the same page and we have each other’s back regardless. So, regardless of what people say, we are going to have each other’s back.”
The deal is done. The price paid. And the return — for better or worse — is already shaping New York’s playoff future. With Anunoby on one wing and Bridges on the other, the Knicks were constructed specifically to stop the two dynamic Celtics looking to repeat as title contenders.
“Picks, whatever. You’re still playing for the New York Knicks,” said Karl-Anthony Towns. “It comes with a different pressure than any other organization any place in the world, but I think [Mikal’s] done a great job of trusting us, believing in us. And I think the team has also done a great job rallying around each other — not just him — and instilling confidence in each other when the ebbs and flows of the season come.
“So Mikal’s done exactly what he’s supposed to do. He’s been in the gym, he’s put the work in. We’ve all seen it. So we have nothing but belief in his skill set, his talent, and his mentality — and we’ve got to keep doing for each other.”
**
Thibodeau’s mission all season was to have his team peaking at the right time — and Bridges saved his best for when it mattered most. In Game 6 against the Pistons, he dropped 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting, helping Brunson set up the game-winning dagger.
If the Knicks get that version of Bridges in Round 2, their slim odds against the Celtics start to tilt.
Because the defense is already there. Bridges took the Cunningham matchups in stride during Round 1, guarding the Pistons star for 85 possessions, per NBA tracking data. Cunningham shot just 11-of-29 (38%) when defended by Bridges — and turned it over eight times to just six assists.
Cunningham was Detroit’s go-to scorer. Brown is Boston’s No. 2. But he’s also last year’s Eastern Conference Finals MVP — and if Bridges stays hot on the defensive end, the Knicks have a shot to keep Boston’s second option in check.
His offense, though, had been up and down — until it wasn’t. In Game 6, the shots finally fell. That, Brunson says, is what defines a Villanova product: defense always comes first and the offense will follow.
“Sometimes, you struggle. It’s all about how can you do the little things to come back and be better. Don’t let the offense dictate how you’re playing,” Brunson said. “I think as players, when you focus on the little things — 50-50 balls, rebounds, offensive rebounds, doing all the dirty work — all of a sudden you end up with a great offensive game.
“It’s something I learned in college: What are you going to do when things aren’t going your way? How are you still going to affect the game? You can still have a great offensive game — and not think about it.”
That’s what the Knicks are counting on. The defense is a given. The mindset, undeniable. The offense? If it comes — especially in a pivotal matchup against one of Boston’s most explosive scorers — Bridges could be the piece that completes the blueprint.
He wasn’t acquired to be the face. He was acquired to be part of the answer.
And in Round 2, the Knicks will face their biggest test.
The picks are gone. The pressure is here. And the player they believed in now has his chance to show why.
