Adam Armbrecht here, the host of the daily Locked On Nets podcast, with your daily Locked On Nets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Nets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
The Mikal Bridges Trade Looks Even Better As Brooklyn Meets the Knicks in the NBA Cup
Nov 10, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) dribbles the ball while New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) defends in the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images|Trevor Ruszkowski/Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
As the Brooklyn Nets gear up for a doubleheader against the New York Knicks this weekend, the spotlight is on Mikal Bridges and the implications of his trade. The Nets, trailing the Knicks by just one loss, are set to meet in the NBA Cup, marking their first game in the in-season tournament. This match-up is not just about the rivalry; it reflects on the decisions made by the Nets’ management and how they are playing out on the court.
Mikal Bridges: A Trade Under the Microscope
When the Nets traded Mikal Bridges, the trade raised eyebrows across the league. Bridges was once seen as a defensive stalwart but has struggled to find his footing with the Knicks.
His shooting has been inconsistent, starting the season at 30% from beyond the arc, and his defense has not lived up to expectations. Even basketball analysts like Nate Duncan have noted his regression, particularly in on-ball defense.
The trade, which brought a significant haul of draft picks for the Brooklyn Nets seems to be paying off. The Nets’ decision to part ways with Bridges is looking increasingly wise as the season progresses.
While Bridges was once a key figure in the trade package involving Kevin Durant, his performance in New York has not justified the high expectations. The Nets, on the other hand, have positioned themselves well for the future with the assets they acquired.
The Knicks’ Championship Aspirations
The Knicks, with their championship aspirations, are relying heavily on Bridges to fill a crucial role. However, his struggles on both ends of the floor have raised questions about the trade’s value.
Bridges’ inability to consistently hit three-pointers and his defensive lapses have been a concern for a team that needs him to excel in a three-and-D role.
Moreover, the Knicks’ decision to trade for Bridges, giving up multiple first-round picks, is under scrutiny. The pressure on Bridges to perform is directly related how much was given up by the Knicks to acquire him.
The trade was seen as a move to bolster their championship window, but early signs suggest it might not have been the right call.
As the Nets and Knicks prepare to clash, the narrative is not just about the games but also the broader implications of the trades and decisions made by both franchises.
The Nets’ strategic moves in the off-season are beginning to show their value, while the Knicks are left to ponder if their gamble on Bridges will pay off.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks rivalry, tune into the Locked On Nets podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Nets Podcast:
- The impact of the NBA Cup on the Nets’ season
- Analysis of the Nets’ recent performance and standings
- A look at the Nets’ draft picks and future prospects
- Discussion on the Knicks’ roster and championship hopes
I held off on writing about the apparent rash, or rise, of early-season athlete injuries because there’s always some recency bias involved when the subject comes up. Are there really more injuries this year than any other? Do we have the data to support it? Is there a new, underlying cause? Or are injuries due to the same compounding mix of bad luck and the NBA’s 82-game schedule running into a long postseason, running into the offseason, running back into a brand new long regular season and the erosion of bodies this eventually leads to?
A report early this week showed early-season injuries were up 35%, and indeed ESPN’s list of injuries, at a glance, looks like a ferocious Christmas tree, lit up in blazing reds and yellows. A handful of teams (the Grizzlies, Pelicans, Raptors) are cobbling together rosters game-to-game depending on who’s still healthy. TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott ran a draft of the injured list this week and each team reads like an All-Star squad on steroids, and when Abbott printed out the league’s official injury report it was 10 pages long.
Injuries are definitely up — but why?
The Paris Olympics proved extra playing time for a few top-tier stars, but most of them remain healthy. The early season schedule hasn’t served up any more back-to-backs to longer road game stretches, which tend to be more gruelling on athletes, than usual. However, when everything appears to be normal and the bodily price is anything but, perhaps it’s time to examine that “normal”.
The NBA’s current schedule of 82 games was adopted in 1967. Already, I’m sure your brain is picturing black and white basketball, that’s good. When you picture that grainy, glitchy footage, how fast is it going? The reality is that the game used to be a lot slower. Not just in its mechanics (think of an offensive passing sequence, the ball flipping from set of hands to hands at a speed that can be hard to follow), but the athleticism too. Bodies were moving slower. The game was still physical — the trope of players from the 80s and 90s complaining about the “softness” of current athletes is a trope for a reason — but full tilt sprinting, cutting, complex rotations, these weren’t the norm. Given that, the bodily mechanics were different. Guys weren’t stopping on a dime, pivoting hard, having to force their ligaments and muscles and bones into exacting motions with all sorts of volatile force behind them.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Fans The Brooklyn Nets are unveiling their new City Edition uniforms, designed in collaboration with local artist KAWS. (NetsDaily)
Feel Good Ziaire Williams is embracing his second chance in the NBA, making the most of his opportunities on the court. (NY Post)
Preview The Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks will battle it out at Madison Square Garden at 7:30 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Replay: Navigating the injury bug
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) holds his leg after a hard following a play against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Paycom Center.|Photo by Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
This week in the fantasy basketball world has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. A major talking point has been Chet Holmgren’s unfortunate injury, which has fantasy managers scrambling for replacements as the Oklahoma City Thunder adjust with potential lineup changes. Keep an eye on players like Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace — who might see increased minutes — and consider them as temporary pickups in deeper leagues.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nets podcasts.
Nets get blown out by Celtics, Cam Thomas continues efficient play Can the Brooklyn Nets bounce back after their crushing 139-114 defeat to the Boston Celtics? With key players like Ben Simmons and Dorian Finney-Smith absent, the Nets faced their first major setback of the season.
Cam Thomas, Ben Simmons, and Noah Clowney lead Brooklyn Nets over Pelicans
It took a fourth-quarter comeback against a banged-up New Orleans Pelicans team, but the Brooklyn Nets were able to get a win on the road. Cam Thomas hit some big shots late but only needed to take 10 field goals overall with the team having a balanced approach on offense.
Brooklyn Nets lose close games to Celtics and Cavs, plus Ben Simmons and Cam Thomas
The Brooklyn Nets had a relatively fun weekend of basketball, going to overtime with the Boston Celtics and then nearly beating the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers.
