Valley of the Suns
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Exclusive: 5 Mikal Bridges Q’s and A’s with a shooting coach

By Dan Volpone

PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 22: Draft pick Mikal Bridges poses for a portrait at the Post NBA Draft press conference on June 22, 2018, at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 22: Draft pick Mikal Bridges poses for a portrait at the Post NBA Draft press conference on June 22, 2018, at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 20: NBA Draft Prospect Mikal Bridges speaks to the media before the 2018 NBA Draft at the Grand Hyatt New York Grand Central Terminal on June 20, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 20: NBA Draft Prospect Mikal Bridges speaks to the media before the 2018 NBA Draft at the Grand Hyatt New York Grand Central Terminal on June 20, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

Translating to a longer 3-point line

Valley of the Suns: The pro 3-point line is obviously a bit longer than in college. Do you see Mikal’s shot translating, and do you think there are any adjustments he’ll need to make in the pros?

@BehindCurve: The shot should translate. To what degree we can’t say yet, but his form, mechanics, and size are excellent indicators, and there’s no reason he shouldn’t be knocking down the trey at a 36-38 percent clip with some experience and repetition. And perhaps better than that after a couple years experience.

According to Tankathon.com’s algorithms, he may settle into around 39% for his career.

According to The Stepien’s shot chart, he shot 88/216 from NBA 3 point range his last two seasons, for 40.74 percent. Lots of reasons for optimism.

Here are a couple looks:

He shot in the 97th percentile on spot ups, 89th on all jump shots, and 92nd on catch and shoots. The film backs up these Synergy stats. His jumper is really pretty and he’s going to make a lot of NBA 3’s. I’m confident.

In terms of potential adjustments, he doesn’t always hold his follow through til the end, and his elbow can occasionally flare out, which sometimes affects the overall fluidity of the shot. And he sometimes reverts back to the form when the ball is pretty far off to the left side of his body like here:

If he can correct these slight issues, he can become an elite shooter.

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