Knicks Notes: Mike Brown not hesitating to sit Mikal Bridges; Jordan Clarkson providing spark

Mikal Bridges was 1-for-7 in the third quarter on Monday and the Knicks were struggling. Some NBA head coaches would stick with their veteran in that spot. It's easier to keep a player like Bridges - one who is signed to a large contract and was obtained for significant trade capital - on the court.

But in this respect, Mike Brown isn't most coaches. He didn't hesitate to bench Bridges in the second half of the Knicks' win over the Nets .

We're seven games into the season. Brown has pulled Bridges in the third quarter of three of those seven games.

"Yeah, he's just got to keep playing. Everybody goes through those ups and downs throughout the course of the season, and obviously, it's the beginning of the season right now, so he's got to find his way," Brown said after New York's win over Brooklyn. "Not just with him but with everybody, when you're in a funk you gotta find one or two things to hold your hat on. Mikal is one of the best runners in the NBA.

"In both directions - offensively and defensively. So he's just got to try to hang his hat on that as well as his cutting and trying to do the other little things - rebounding and driving and touching the paint and spraying it. Then this shot will come eventually."

Bridges is shooting 30 percent from the floor so far this year. If you've watched the Knicks during Bridges' tenure, you know that he can be up and down over the course of the regular season. And you also know he can deliver in big playoff situations. Brown believes Bridges will ultimately be fine.

"It's a matter of time in my opinion, before Mikal gets going," Brown said.

But if the Knicks head coach thinks someone else gives the team a better chance to win on a given night, he won't hesitate to sit Bridges.

After a sluggish three quarters, Brown turned to Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek to start the fourth quarter. Clarkson, Kolek, Josh Hart , OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns sparked the Knicks early in the fourth.

It was the second time in the past three games that Clarkson helped turn things around. The veteran had 18 points in New York's comeback win in Chicago. But he has also basically been out of the rotation in three of New York's seven games.

"I think it shows his character more than anything else. He's someone that if he was on a different team, he could play 20, 25 minutes every night. He could score double digits. He could be that spark, that microwave off the bench. And he's here," Hart said. "He was willing to sacrifice and take a smaller role, be a part of something bigger than himself. So it shows its character.

"It shows his professionalism. To be able to go out and do those things. And when he's not doing it, he's out there coaching, not on the court, he's coaching guys up, talking to them, letting them know what he sees. So he's the ultimate professional. He's someone that you want on your team. And whenever he's given an opportunity, he'll go out and play well."

Brown also had effusive praise for Clarkson.

"You have a veteran that's been there, done that. and he's willing to accept the role that most guys wouldn't accept - even guys younger that haven't proved as much as he's proven in this league. And he's willing to accept it," Brown said. "So, in my opinion, if he's willing to accept it, which is what he did last year, and still try to uplift everybody, connect everybody while he's going through what he's going through, then everybody else should. That's that's the ultimate team player, I will say this about JC. I've been around some good teammates. He's got to be the best. He is the definition of ultimate pro."

Additionally, Landry Shamet led the team in scoring with 22 points off of the bench in 29 minutes. The veteran shot 4-for-6 from three, 6-for-8 from the field, and was a perfect 6-for-6 on free throws.