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Kevin Ollie is pleased with Mikal Bridges breaking out of his extended slump
It was a well-rounded performance that most Nets fans became familiar with over the past year. Bouncing back from the slump should be cathartic for the 27-year-old after a string of bad games.
“It was good for Mikal to see some shots go in. Coming off the curl, playing off CT, just taking the pressure off themselves and stepping up. He put so much work in, so I know those seeds he’s planting is gonna bloom and blossom,” Coach Ollie said about Mikal’s bounce-back performance.
“He's meticulous in his work, and it's gonna show, and like I said the other day, the struggle is part of this, and he's gonna grow through it.”
A strong Mikal performance is good for Brooklyn
The Nets play much better when Mikal is performing well. This game showed the team had a good rhythm whenever Bridges had a solid performance because he opened up so much for the rest of the team.
In this win against Cleveland, Mikal was not a ball-dominant player, as he thrived moving off the ball and supporting Cameron Thomas. It was another example that the Nets’ star duo can work well together and will keep meshing as time passes.
Mikal and Cam love playing with each other, which is evident when they keep running their actions together. It’s a good relationship for the Nets to capitalize on, especially since neither player has a problematic ego that interferes with one another’s play.
Coach Ollie can maximize Mikal’s return to form
The Cleveland game showed the potential of Coach KO leading this Nets team. For the rest of the season, Bridges should be a go-to scorer, but he should also maximize his time playing without the ball. The Nets have Dennis Schroder as the primary playmaker, and he knows how to play with stars.
By moving well off the ball, Mikal can get more open looks, which makes the offense more dynamic. Brooklyn has loads of potential when they unlock the best way to play, and at the moment, that’s Bridges playing off the ball with Schroder and Thomas serving as the primary ball handlers.
