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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SAN ANTONIO, TX – APRIL 02: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats cuts down the net after defeating the Michigan Wolverines during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. Villanova defeated Michigan 79-62. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – APRIL 02: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats cuts down the net after defeating the Michigan Wolverines during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. Villanova defeated Michigan 79-62. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

The hitch

Valley of the Suns: What’s up with the hitch we saw recently? Are you worried, or does the fact that he was making them ease your concerns? And what could be the reason Bridges is shooting this way in practice?

@BehindCurve: Here’s the recently released video of Bridges’ hitch:

It’s slow and not as pretty as normal, but let’s factor in:

  1. His college coach posted the video, so he obviously didn’t feel there were any red flags.
  2. He made them all; no weird airballs or trouble reaching the hoop.
  3. If it wasn’t for the Markelle Fultz debacle, this video probably doesn’t even make our radar, and that was a once in a lifetime incident

It’s possible he was tinkering with his release point. Or he was tired. Or he was focused on something specific, as all shooters do here and there. Maybe he was taking his time as he adjusts to the new range. The speed of release is the only question I’d have, but remember, he jumps higher in games than he’s jumping in this video.

As soon as there’s another clip, we’ll all breathe a sigh of relief. But if he does turn out to have “The Yips,” at least he can blame the Sixers for the draft day trauma bait-and-switch trade where they humiliated him and his mother, their own employee, on national television. Perfectly valid excuse for forgetting how to shoot.

Next: Fred VanVleet might be the Phoenix Suns’ PG of the future

It’s time for more reps from the new distance, and if maintaining form means slowing down a bit at first, that’s fine. He’s been a late bloomer all along, so why stop now? Take your time Mikal. It’ll come.

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