DALLAS — Much of Brooklyn’s first two games — both losses — has been about experimentation, figuring out what works and finding out what doesn’t.
Quietly, the Nets have a Mikal Bridges problem they need to solve.
Bridges was the centerpiece of the Kevin Durant trade, and the face of the franchise going forward.
From top to bottom, the organization is enamored with him, his production and his persona.
And justifiably so.
But right now, Bridges is in a funk.
He’s struggling to find his way offensively as the No. 1 scoring option and top priority of every defense he faces.
It’s a new responsibility for him, and a difficult one.
Yes, it’s early. But considering how absurdly difficult the opening part of their schedule is, it can get late early.
And after Bridges struggled again in Friday’s loss at Dallas — the Nets going cold offensively down the stretch — coach Jacque Vaughn has to help his star wing get back on track, starting Monday in Charlotte.
“[The Mavericks] just got stops. Personally, just I’m not executing,” Bridges said afterward. “So I’m just not helping my team out.”
To be clear, Bridges is being hard on himself. He’s not playing poorly.
He’s just not playing brilliantly, not up to the standard he set for himself last season.
the Cavaliers.
Upon arriving in Brooklyn as the foundation of the Durant deal, Bridges averaged 26.1 points on 47.5 percent shooting, 37.6 percent from 3-point range.
But beneath the surface numbers, there were concerns.
There still are.
Brooklyn had a minus-24.3 clutch Net Rating after the All-Star break last season.
The only teams that were worse were the lottery-bound Pistons and Trail Blazers.
The league defines “clutch” as a game within five points inside the last five minutes of regulation or overtime.
And with defenses keying on him in those situations after his Brooklyn arrival, Bridges shot 22.2 percent (2-for-9) in 36 minutes. Just six players in the league who logged as many minutes over that span shot worse.
League GMs voted Bridges the second-best player at moving without the ball. But with him trying to create on the ball so far this season, defenses have keyed on him — top-locking him, pushing him, getting physical with him — and the wing is having to figure out how to respond.
“Being a No. 1 option is obviously a different burden,” admitted Spencer Dinwiddie. “But it’s an honor to be able to carry that. I think, with Mikal’s work ethic, he’ll be fine. It’s all about learning nuances and continuing to improve.
“It’s always an adjustment when you go into a new role, really being able to carry that No. 1 option, focal point, draw double teams, things of that nature. Not many people in the NBA history have been able to command that type of attention, and it’s just an adjustment.”
In last season’s playoffs, Philadelphia keyed on Bridges and he averaged 23.5 points on 42.9 percent shooting.
So far this season, he’s seen that efficiency drop to 19.0 points on 41.4 percent shooting, and just 33.3 percent from deep.
And he’s shot 0-for-10 in 10 clutch minutes.
While young guard Cam Thomas has performed well in the clutch, the Nets haven’t as a whole.
Brooklyn blew a six-point lead with 1:17 left at home against Cleveland on opening night. Then they squandered a five-point cushion with 2:10 to play on Friday in Dallas.
“It’s early; it’s only two games. Can’t overreact. But just we’ve got to get better,” Bridges said. “We know we’re going to be in tight games, and we’ve got to learn how to win and execute on both ends.”
When Bridges first arrived, the Nets couldn’t remake their entire offense midseason so just slotted Bridges right into the actions they’d been running for Durant.
He handled them with aplomb.
But despite having his first preseason to work with, Vaughn made the curious call to not start installing any actions for Bridges until the last few days of camp, after all four preseason games were played.
Still, Bridges hasn’t used that as excuse for his slow start.
“Not really,” Bridges said. “Just missing shots, I’m missing layups, missing some of my teammates open. I’ve just got to be better.”