Reggie Bullock's time away from the team may have helped his game
Reggie Bullock's first game back from health and safety protocols didn't go as planned. It went better. He scored 16 points and made three 3-point jump shots in the Dallas Mavericks 112-96 win over the Sacramento Kings. And after the game, he attributed his confident play to the break from game action while he was in […]
Reggie Bullock's first game back from health and safety protocols didn't go as planned. It went better.
He scored 16 points and made three 3-point jump shots in the Dallas Mavericks 112-96 win over the Sacramento Kings. And after the game, he attributed his confident play to the break from game action while he was in isolation.
"I had to isolate at home and continue to watch the games to see what I can do better when I come out there," Bullock said. "The break was good for me. Obviously, I was struggling a little bit. But I had to continue to find the confidence. My teammates believed in me. I just tried to take this break and come in with a new attitude and bring energy."
It wasn't just Bullock blowing his own horn regarding his improved confidence on the floor. Mavericks Head coach Jason Kidd was proud of the effort as well.
"Reggie was great," Jason Kidd said after the game. "He did a great job for us on both ends. Hopefully, this was the break he needed. He was fresh. I liked the shots he took. But the big thing was his defense. He's been big for us all year. And I thought this afternoon he was really good on the defensive end."
For the first time in a long time, Bullock looked like the guy Dallas thought it was getting during the offseason.
He defended at a high rate, stayed engaged when the ball didn't come his way, and even got involved in setting teammates up for some easy baskets.
One major area of improvement
One area he shined was putting the ball on the floor to create his offense. Throughout his career, Bullock has been labeled a 3-and-D player. He was someone who could knock down open spot-up 3-pointers, but you never expected him to score without being set up.
That changed against Sacramento. And if it's a lasting change, it adds another wrinkle to what Dallas aims to do offensively.
"He showed that he could put the ball on the floor and get to the basket," Kidd said. "We are going to need that."
See it for yourself.
Having the confidence to put the ball on the floor is a positive sign for all Bullock believers. Through the first quarter of the season, he looked timid and almost uncomfortable on the floor.
That doesn't appear to be the case now. However, will it last?
That answer is to be decided.
Putting Bullock in context
But, if this season is any indication of Bullock's trend, the answer may be no. The 30-year-old forward is suffering through his worst season since 2016. His 5.6 points are the fifth-lowest of his career. And the putrid 27 percent from the 3-point range is the lowest mark of his career.
From the field, Bullock is shooting an ugly 35 percent. And he has only scored in double-figures six times this season. What is a worrying trend is that in three games where he's scored double-figures, he's followed that performance up with scoring 0 points the next game.
Yet, that was pre-health-and-safety-protocols Bullock. The confidence he had against Sacramento could indicate that he, at least, believes he is turning the page on what has been one of his worst seasons to date.
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Feature image via Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports.
