‘It is at all times the subsequent man up’

Knicks wing Reggie Bullock has missed the previous three video games with an harm, however he seems to be prepared for his return coming into Sunday’s sport, a 1 p.m. tip-off towards the Los Angeles Clippers at MSG. Bullock advised reporters Saturday that he was inserted into observe and with contact whereas working again from a sore neck.

However whereas sidelined, Bullock watched the Knicks’ ongoing development below head coach Tom Thibodeau from a brand new vantage level.

“I like it,” Bullock mentioned. “I imply, it is aggressive in observe. However we’re held accountable in observe. Coach expects greatness out of us. He expects us to go over the sport plan and do the sport plan the suitable approach that we ready for it. I like, after I was out, I nonetheless stored seeing guys compete — it is at all times the subsequent man up, and it is coach’s determination on who he begins and who he performs. However like I mentioned, whereas I used to be out, issues have been wanting nice. Guys have been competing and I simply liked the battle that we’ve got been doing, and I really feel like tomorrow will certainly be a chip on our shoulder to have the ability to exit and carry out properly towards top-of-the-line groups within the league proper right here.”

In an eight-year NBA profession spanning 5 groups, together with the Knicks since 2019-20, Bullock delved deeper into Thibodeau’s distinctive teaching method.

“It has been a blessing,” Bullock mentioned. “He is a kind of coaches which might be positively going to carry you accountable. He is positively improved me on the defensive finish, simply the small print, how detailed he’s on the defensive finish of issues. Only a defensive mindset that our complete group has, holding everybody accountable, simply attempting to instill greatness into us daily — and that is one factor that we, as gamers, strive to hang around hat on for this group is our protection.

“And that is what’s been getting us over the hump this 12 months and simply placing quite a lot of strain on groups. And hopefully, we’ll proceed to simply preserve that going all through the season. However I like the battle that he is instilled into all the fellows.”