Hornet Miles Bridges’ 2nd season has been rocky; hopefully it’ll be educational
There is an awful lot on second-year Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges’ plate. Probably too much.
He’s being asked most games this season to guard the opposing team’s best offensive option. Over the past six months, he’s switched primary position from small forward to power forward, then back to small forward to accommodate rookie P.J. Washington becoming a starter.
So it’s been challenging. It’s also been rocky. According to nba.com’s advanced stats, Bridges has the league’s worst on-court/off-court point differential this season at minus-22.2
What’s this been like for the former Michigan State star?
“Last year I was guarding LeBron (James) and Kawhi (Leonard) and those guys,” Bridges said before Friday’s home game against the Brooklyn Nets. “This year I knew they’d have me guarding those guys again. Coming in, me and Bac (Dwayne Bacon) knew we were gonna guard the top players.
“I’ve been prepared for that. It’s a challenge, but it’s why I play in the NBA.”
Bridges was the 12th pick in the 2018 draft. At 6-6, it was anticipated he’d play both forward spots. Coach James Borrego said in July he wanted Bridges playing primarily power forward this season. But Washington, the 12th pick out of Kentucky, was so good in the preseason that he became a starter, moving Bridges back to small forward.
Bridges was always going to be asked to be the Hornets’ top defensive option this season, but the situation got more complicated when Nic Batum fractured a finger in the season-opener. That eliminated the best other option as a mid-size defender for 11 games.
Batum is now back, averaging 22 minutes off the bench. Everyone acknowledges it’s been rough for Bridges, but coach James Borrego sees this as a long-term plus.
“We’re throwing a lot at him. He’s having to adjust on the fly,” Borrego said. “On the defensive end, he has a different (tough) matchup every night. He’s got to bring the urgency.
“I’ve seen growth on the defensive end. On offense (averaging 12.6 points on 45 percent shooting) he’s been solid. He’s getting more touches some games than others. He knows his job is to get out in transition and attack the rim. Shoot corner 3s.”
Ultimately, the question may become whether Bridges and Washington are complementary parts or redundant to each other. But in a rebuild year, when the Hornets are focused more on developing young players, and less on long-term fit, that decision is likely a long way off.
