Joel Embiid Explains Struggles and Adjustments vs. Mikal Bridges
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Going into Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers understood they had a tough defensive assignment guarding Brooklyn Nets standout Mikal Bridges.
Since joining the Nets via trade after getting his career started with the Phoenix Suns, Bridges has gone from a talented role player as a third option to being the focal point in Brooklyn’s offense. The Sixers prepared for Bridges all week, but he still got his numbers through the first half of action in Game 1.
Checking in for 19 minutes on Saturday, Bridges shot efficiently as he knocked down ten of his 16 shots from the field. The veteran guard scored 23 of his team’s 58 first-half points. While the Nets still trailed 67-58 at halftime, Bridges’ performance kept his team within reach of a potential second-half comeback.
“We let him get comfortable,” said Sixers center Joel Embiid regarding Bridges’ first-half performance. “Everything he was getting downhill, he was getting a bunch of pull-up jumpers.”
Unfortunately for Bridges and Brooklyn, the Sixers’ second-half adjustments prevented the veteran guard from maintaining his offensive success from the first two quarters.
“It’s not easy being the star or being the main guy,” Embiid continued. “As soon as we saw that, we just doubled him, got the ball out of his hands, and it worked out well for us.”
In the second half, Bridges put up just two shots from the field in 15 minutes of action. While he knocked down both of his shots, one of which came from beyond the arc, Bridges managed to only score seven points in his next 15 minutes on the court.
With the Sixers outscoring Brooklyn 54-43 in the second half of action, the Nets didn’t have an answer on either side of the ball in the final two quarters.
As a result, the Sixers defeated the Nets 121-101. Bridges finished the game with 30 points in 34 minutes.
Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.
