There have been too many games over the past two seasons where it has been very easy to forget that Mikal Bridges is in the building.
There have been many times when he has disappeared into the corner and watched his colleagues work, only wandering around when someone needs a kick.
There have been too many games to make his career stat sheet look riddled with irregularities, as if the numbers from his first game with the Nets in 2023 — when he averaged 26.1 points on a playoff team — were entered by one of his family members.
At times, it sounded like Bridges was doing James Dolan’s signature to protect his $150 million extension.
Bridges has rarely felt as valuable as the five first-round picks the Knicks gave away in hopes of boosting their title chances.
But now?
Bridges is everything the Knicks could ask of him.
The 29-year-old continued to be aggressive on both ends of the floor in his ninth straight game, helping the Knicks to their ninth straight victory, 109-93, in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final against the Cavaliers on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
Bridges finished with 19 points (9-of-12 shooting from the field), three rebounds, three assists, one steal and one turnover.
Bridges, who had 18 points (7-of-11 shooting) and five rebounds and two steals in the surprise Game 1 victory, was the unsung hero of the comeback with 22 points, shut out James Harden and hit a clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Less than a month ago, Bridges’ confidence looked shaky and his starting job seemed in jeopardy after he went scoreless in a Game 3 loss in Atlanta that put the Knicks on a two-game losing streak since the end of their season.
Now, the Knicks are two wins from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, fueled by Bridges’ inspired play.
Entering Thursday, Bridges was averaging 18.7 points, four rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals in his past six games, while shooting 67.1 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from three-point range.
Since being held scoreless, Bridges has hit at least half of his shots during each of the Knicks’ wins.
And again, Bridges kept Harden quiet, using his height to trouble the Cavs star into making just 6-of-15 shots.
In Game 1, Bridges held the former MVP to 1-of-6 in the fourth quarter.
The invisible now seems impossible.
