Josh Hart was taking a different type of Christmas list. 

“Get some damn apology forms out,” the outspoken forward said. “I’ll be collecting them next game and give [Mikal Bridges] his flowers because he’s playing well. 

“Let the flowers be as loud as the hate.” 

Hart had publicly and adamantly supported Bridges through those turbulent early-season struggles, when it looked like those five first-round picks were shipped to Brooklyn for an average role player. Since the turn into December, however, Bridges has been playing more like the irreplaceable All-Star that Leon Rose threw his chips into. There remain a few caveats, including the small sample size — if it was unfair to make sweeping conclusions as Bridges struggled, the same logic should apply to his success — and also the schedule has been forgiving lately.