© John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Mikal Bridges believes the Nets can still make the Playoffs
The Nets are 50 games into an 82-game regular season, and the team has met some lofty expectations. Brooklyn has a 20-30 record after the loss to the Dallas Mavericks, good for 11th in the Eastern Conference.
That position also puts the Nets outside the Play-In Tournament, which is a big deal in determining the teams participating in the Playoffs. Despite the tough climb the Nets have to make, star player Mikal Bridges still believes he and his teammates can reach the postseason.
“Just gotta be better. Not where we wanna be at right now. But obviously, there's still a shot. Just gotta play better… I do think so,” Mikal said when asked about the Nets’ Playoff chances.
Mikal is doing his part
While Brooklyn has struggled in the Eastern Conference, Mikal is doing his part to contribute to the team. He is arguably the team’s best player, scoring 21.9 points per game while providing elite defense.
Bridges has a difficult job as the Nets’ go-to guy because he has to deal with the opponent’s best defender every night while still defending on the other end. That is a challenging role for Mikal, but that’s his play style. The former Villanova Wildcat is reliable and a steady contributor to any team.
The 27-year-old was instrumental in helping the Nets remain in the Playoff race last season because of his explosive breakout as a go-to scorer.
This season has been an anomaly for the Nets because they have had multiple injuries throughout the year. Bridges has remained the one constant and is ready to keep contributing to Coach Jacque Vaughn's system.
Mikal is not alone
The Nets’ hopes for the Playoffs do not just rest on Mikal’s shoulders because the rest of the team will have to contribute. Thankfully, Cameron Thomas has emerged as a breakout star for the Nets this season, scoring 21.4 points per game, nearly matching Mikal’s output.
Aside from Cam, Nic Claxton is also a foundational piece for Brooklyn, as his defense has been superb. The former Georgia Bulldog is swatting 2.4 shots per game, but his impact goes beyond the stats because Clax can intimidate anyone from getting into the paint. The 24-year-old can switch to smaller players and keep up with his tremendous foot speed.
The Nets have talented players, but they just need to stay healthy and keep up with the other teams in the East. If Coach Vaughn can maximize the players’ talents, the players can propel themselves to the Playoffs again.
