Test against the Adelaide 36ers another chance for Brisbane Bullets to gel as a group
PODCAST: The Brisbane Bullets are not believing the hype around the team just yet and have another chance to improve against Adelaide on Sunday.
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THE biggest story heading into the 2016/17 season was the return of the Brisbane Bullets.
After eight seasons in the wilderness, the Bullets are back and the hype has only increased after two wins in the first round of the National Basketball League.
But despite victories against the Sydney Kings and the defending champions the Perth Wildcats, Andrej Lemanis’ group are not believing in their own hype just yet.
However, with star recruit in former Chicago Bulls NBA forward Cameron Bairstow as well as Reuben Te Rangi expected back this weekend against MVP candidate Jerome Randle and the Adelaide 36ers, it’s just another chance for the recently assembled squad to gel as a team.
There was nothing pretty about Brisbane’s wins over Perth and Sydney, with a combined margin of just 10 points, but Lemanis’ decision to recruit proven NBL players as well as veterans is already paying dividends.
A younger team with less experience may have folded when trailing the Wildcats by 12 midway through the third quarter or when the Kings charged back on their home floor, but the Bullets found a way to get it done.
They also showed other teams from around the NBL, as well as their own fans, that even on a bad night, they will be hard to beat.
As the Bullets coaching staff and players pointed out during the week - their offensive and defensive execution was poor - but they came up with crucial plays at crucial times.
Import Torrey Craig was outstanding in both games while Jermaine Beal and big man Daniel Kickert also had their moments.
But there was no better sight for the Bullets then star guard Adam Gibson coming up clutch in both wins.
The former 36er led the comeback with Beal against Perth then knocked down a huge three against Sydney, followed up by a crafty pass which found Shaun Bruce for another triple in the fourth quarter of the win.
After a subpar season for Adelaide last year, Gibson looks refreshed leading a revamped franchise that he won an NBL Championship with in 2007.
The Olympian, as well as teammate Anthony Petrie, will face their former team for the first time at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sunday night with their eyes set on starting the season with three straight wins.
But Sunday’s game will also mark the return of the man, who was behind the Bullets 2007 championship in 36ers coach Joey Wright, as well as former Brisbane manager and current Adelaide operations manager Joe Tertzakian.
Wright helped lead one of the best teams in the competition’s history, featuring stars such as Sam Mackinnon, CJ Bruton and Ebi Ere, to Brisbane’s third title before the club folded a year later.
I expect the Brisbane faithful to welcome Wright back with the ovation he deserves.
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