Mikal Bridges asks Thibs to cut back on starters minutes

[Hey Yo]

It's been a storyline this season, as three Knicks players rank in the top 10 in minutes played per game, with Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges occupying the top two spots on that list, respectively.

"Sometimes it's not fun on the body," Bridges said via the New York Post. "You'll want that as a coach but also talked to him a little bit knowing that we've got a good enough team where our bench guys can come in and we don't need to play 48 [minutes], 47."

"We've got a lot of good guys on this team that can take away minutes," Bridges said. "Which helps the defense, helps the offense, helps tired bodies being out there and giving up all these points. It helps just keeping fresh bodies out there."

We'll see if Thibodeau takes Bridges' words to heart, especially as the postseason nears. The last thing the Knicks need is guys entering the playoffs run down due to the number of minutes they're playing, especially with Jalen Brunson already sidelined with an ankle injury. We saw how injuries wrecked the Knicks in the playoffs last season, as OG Anunoby and Josh Hart missed time due to various ailments.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/knicks-mikal-bridges-the-nbas-modern-day-ironman-asks-tom-thibodeau-to-ease-up-on-starters-minutes/

[Real Men Wear Green]

Not that Bridges is wrong but the Knick bench is so little-used that I wonder if Thibs has any real faith in them. It's strange for a Thibs team to have a bad defense. I understand the reasons why but KAT (for example) is a guy that Thibs must have wanted, having coached him before the defensive flaws have to have been known. If they go out in the second round and worn-down, injured players are a factor they should consider a new coach.

[Meticode]

It's been known he should have done this years ago.

[Im so nba'd out]

Uh oh. Thibs gonna get him out of here in the summer lol. Just watch :oldlol:.You can book it.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Uh oh. Thibs gonna get him out of here in the summer lol. Just watch :oldlol:.You can book it. They traded five first round picks for him, they can't just send him along when they've invested so much in getting him.

[Meticode]

They traded five first round picks for him, they can't just send him along when they've invested so much in getting him.

Pretty sure he meant Thibs is going to make Bridges play 40 minutes a game during Summer League. (sarcasm)

[Patrick Chewing]

This is Thibs. He just thinks you can win with an 8-man rotation and you just can't. It's on him for not giving his bench guys more confidence by playing them more often. They also blew it when they traded DiVo away in the Randle deal and did nothing to replace him.

But ultimately, it's Thibs who doesn't play his players and not anyone else in that organization.

[Proctor]

This is Thibs. He just thinks you can win with an 8-man rotation and you just can't. It's on him for not giving his bench guys more confidence by playing them more often. They also blew it when they traded DiVo away in the Randle deal and did nothing to replace him.

But ultimately, it's Thibs who doesn't play his players and not anyone else in that organization.

This. Fvck him.

[tontoz]

They traded five first round picks for him, they can't just send him along when they've invested so much in getting him.

I like Bridges but that was a ridiculous overpay.

[Real Men Wear Green]

I like Bridges but that was a ridiculous overpay.
They thought they were close to a ring. Maybe if they kept those picks to get Durant. Oh well.

[Wally450]

It's been known he should have done this years ago.

For real. This has been an issue going back to his Chicago days. no surprise that this team will run out of steam come the postseason.

[Meticode]

Reporters asked Thibs about this meeting. Thibs claims this meeting between Bridges and him never took place. Thibs then proceeds to play Bridges 41 minutes in the next game.

That's not good. Bridges is literally the iron man of the NBA currently he's played more games than anyone since he was drafted. He's played in 82 games 4 out of his 9 seasons in the NBA. And he's the one that has to bring up players are playing too much? Then Thibs says the meeting never took place?

[ILLsmak]

They thought they were close to a ring. Maybe if they kept those picks to get Durant. Oh well.

Durant seems low key washed. Super talent, but he doesn’t care anymore. I think his gsw stint broke him. He thought it was gonna go over differently and when his own team beefed with him, he was never the same.

-Smak

[Proctor]

Knicks up 25 with 3 minutes left in the game and this utter dickhead has KAT and Bridges out there. lol

[Patrick Chewing]

Knicks up 25 with 3 minutes left in the game and this utter dickhead has KAT and Bridges out there. lol

Yup. It's surreal how he doesn't change his ways. Second Round exit again cause his players will be gassed come playoff time.

[imdaman99]

Was at the game tonight and yeah bridges commits a foul to get everyone out the game and I see KAT still in.... Weird shit