Mikal Bridges warns Knicks: don’t relax with 2-0 NBA Finals edge
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Mikal Bridges has lived the nightmare of watching a 2-0 NBA Finals lead disappear, and he believes the Knicks must do everything possible to keep history from repeating itself.
Speaking Monday, the Brooklyn Nets swingman recalled the 2021 championship series, when his then-team, the Phoenix Suns, won the first two games against the Milwaukee Bucks before dropping the next four. That collapse, he said, should serve as a cautionary tale for any club that thinks two victories constitute control of a best-of-seven matchup.
“You can’t feel comfortable,” Bridges said, noting that the Suns’ early success quickly evaporated once the Bucks adjusted. The lesson for New York, he added, is to approach Game 3 “as if the series is 0-0,” maintain defensive intensity and resist the urge to look ahead.
Bridges pointed out that momentum can shift in a single quarter, especially on the road. He cited Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 41-point performance in Game 3 of the 2021 Finals as the moment Phoenix realized its margin for error had vanished. “One big night from the other side changes everything,” he warned.
The 27-year-old also emphasized closing games with discipline. In 2021, Phoenix surrendered double-digit leads in both Game 4 and Game 5. Bridges said the Suns’ inability to execute late possessions “gave Milwaukee life,” something he urged the Knicks to avoid by protecting the ball and sticking to their half-court sets.
Although Bridges now competes across town, he said he wants to see New York “finish the job” for the city. He stressed that reaching four wins—not two—is all that matters. “You never forget letting one slip away,” he said. “Make sure it doesn’t happen to you.”
Source: New York Post
