By the time I pen the next Bulletin, it’s probable the New York Knicks have either played their first preseason game or are actively at it.

That means the basketball festivities are right around the corner, and after such a hellaciously long summer, we’d gladly take whatever is handed to us.

Here’s what Coach Brown and a few Knickerbockers have said in the past few hours.

Mike Brown

On pacing players across a long season:

“I’ve got to help [pace the players], too. That’s one when I was fortunate, blessed, lucky to be in a couple of back-to-back Finals [as an assistant with Golden State], go a couple of times where you had long seasons and you feel that the next season is right there on you. But the biggest thing is trying to make sure you watch everybody’s minutes instead of trying to chase games. There might be some games that, maybe throw the towel in early. You know, just instead of — if you’re in that many close games, just instead of chasing every single game. It’s important to win, but you also have to understand, ‘Hey, I want to keep this guy’s minutes here, this guy’s minutes here, this guy’s minutes here,’ instead of trying to extend everybody’s minutes. Because if the season is long, we don’t want anybody worn out by the end of the season. And then when the end of the season does come, make sure that everybody takes an adequate break before getting back into it.”

On learning from Steve Kerr’s mindset shift after 2016:

“They did. And they got, I think that year, they got beat in the Finals. Yeah, and it kind of caught up to them. And from that point on, that’s when he was like, I’m not going to chase it anymore. You know, if we get it, we get it, but I got to make sure for Steph [Curry], if we want Steph, to only play 35 minutes or average 35 minutes a game, then that’s what he’s going to average.”

On implementing a new minutes philosophy in New York:

“The biggest thing is trying to make sure you watch everybody’s minutes instead of trying to chase games. There might be some games where maybe you throw the towel in early. It’s important to win, but you also have to understand, ‘Hey, I want to keep this guy’s minutes here, this guy’s minutes here, this guy’s minutes here,’ instead of trying to extend everybody’s minutes. Because the season is long, and we don’t want anybody worn out by the end.”

On his rotation plans for preseason games:

“These first couple of games here, I’ll tell you, for sure, is I’d like everybody to have an opportunity to play in both games. Because this is a long way to come. Everybody’s been busting their behind, and so I want to make sure that everybody gets some form of minutes while we’re here for these two games. Which means most likely that the starters and the top nine or ten guys, may just play the first half. Because we gotta make sure everybody gets on the court and I can’t play everybody in the first half.”

On when he’ll make the final call on the fifth starter:

“I’m close. I’m close with it. But just because I start somebody now doesn’t mean it’s gonna be like this in Game 45.”

On his expectations for early preseason games in Abu Dhabi:

“We’re not going to be perfect, we’ve only had six or seven practices or whatever it is. And so we don’t expect these guys to be on point with everything that we’re trying to do.”

Josh Hart

On the blame for playoff struggles and adjusting throughout the offseason:

“It was obviously tough. I mean, it’s tough whenever you go out there and you don’t play how you want to play. But it was one of those things where I gave everything I have and I just didn’t have anything left in the tank. It’s frustrating obviously at times. That was the furthest I’ve been. Now I know to get to the next step I’ve got to be better. So definitely sits with you, definitely changes your offseason routine. Now that’s the past and we’ve got to move on and look forward to this year.”

On taking accountability over Karl-Anthony Towns for the ECF loss:

“I mean, hey, I think the only one who should get blamed [for the Knicks’ struggles against Indiana] is me. I think I played well in Detroit, played well in Boston. Indiana, I just didn’t have nothing left. I thought [Karl-Anthony Towns] played good. I thought the team played well. I think I didn’t have enough to give. I think, honestly, I should get the brunt of that more than KAT or anyone else. They played hard. They did what they were supposed to do. If they’re blaming him I think it’s stupidity.”

On his finger injury and adjusting to a new splint:

“No complaints. Something I think I can play through. The splint that I had before in the summer was different then the splint I have now. So it takes a little getting used to with that, the tape and the feel.”

On how he aggravated his finger injury:

“I was playing defense. I’m not sure exactly what happened. I think how the splint was and the pressure on it, those quick movements just kind of messed it back up.

Karl-Anthony Towns

On dealing with criticism and leadership expectations:

“I’ve been the No. 1 pick. Success, as a leader, you give all credit to your teammates because they’re the ones that make you successful. In failure, if things don’t go right you’ve got to take all the flak, like you said. I’ve done that my whole career, even when I was right or when I was wrong. I expect nothing less than lies to be told.”

On adapting to Mike Brown’s system:

“Hell yeah. There’s always another level. Obviously all of us are adjusting (to Mike Brown). We’ve got some new stuff we’re adjusting to, offense, new defense and all in between. Everyone including myself is trying to find where we can be the most impactful at.”

Mikal Bridges

On team depth and trust in substitutions:

“I think it’s good, especially with the guys we have on the team. As far as starters and everybody else — the bench — we’ve got a lot of guys that can hoop and play the right way. So I know if I get subbed out, OG or somebody else, the next guy is gonna step up and do their thing. It’s a trust thing. Knowing that we’re not really gonna slip much when we’re subbing out.”