Mikal Bridges reacts to a season-low four-point performance against Orlando

Mikal had his worst performance for the Nets this season.

© Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Mikal Bridges had his worst performance of the season against the Orlando Magic, scoring only four points on a 2-of-13 from the field. He struggled to hit shots, including a mid-range jumper that hit the side of the backboard.

It was a combination of him not hitting his shots and the Magic haunting him on defense. The game was a disappointing performance from Mikal, and he admits he’s in a slump at the moment, but he will keep shooting. It was a far cry from Mikal’s previous performances against the Magic, which involved him scoring 44 points.

Mikal Bridges on the Nets season-high 22 turnovers

"It's tough but you just gotta get through it and still be solid and make the right play and you know, not turn the ball over. I mean, you just gotta get through it.

"Just learn from it and be ready for the next game."

— Evan Barnes (@evan_b) February 28, 2024

“I feel like when I’m open, you know, I’m going to take threes. They all feel good; it’s just not going in, unfortunately, which is not fun,” Mikal said in his post-game interview. 

“Just continue to take what the defense gives me, keep being aggressive. The only way to get out of this slump is to keep shooting.”

Coach Ollie wants the team to maximize Mikal

For the team’s go-to option, Mikal only shooting 13 times was surprising, considering Cameron Thomas’ injury. The former LSU Tiger’s absence means Bridges should get the ball more, but that was not what happened against Orlando.

He did shoot a team-high 13 times, but it should’ve been more, considering how much the Nets needed someone to take over. Coach Kevin Ollie agrees because the team can thrive when the offense flows through Bridges.

“I have to do a better job trying to get Mikal the ball more. They were blitzing the pick-and-rolls, and he didn’t want to go off the pick-and-rolls,” Ollie said after losing to Orlando. 

“I thought he was just trying to make the right play, and when he got the opportunity to get some looks, he just didn’t knock them down. But he had some good looks, and hopefully, we can get those looks when we get back home.”

Mikal needs another scorer alongside him

When the Magic locked in on Bridges, he lacked the confidence and assertiveness to take over. He needed someone to relieve him of the pressure like Cam, who does it regularly with them co-existing as a duo.

Nets duo this season:

Cam Thomas — Mikal Bridges —
21.2 PPG 21.7 PPG
2.0 3PM 2.6 3PM
36.4 3P% 37.1 3P% pic.twitter.com/zGHyzj8Muv

— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 21, 2024

Lonnie Walker IV could be that player, but Coach Ollie is setting up the team with Mikal as the shooting guard while he starts Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith in the forward positions.

Having a dynamic scorer alongside Bridges can help maximize his skill set, and Cam’s injury has put a wrench into Ollie’s plans. Moving forward, the Nets can play better as long as Thomas gets healthy.

A depleted Brooklyn Nets team gets blown out 108 to 81 by the Orlando Magic