Bullets keen to kickstart their NBL season with win over Sydney Kings

Three straight losses to the start the NBL season wasn’t what Brisbane Bullets fans were expecting.

Jason Cadee (centre) questions a referee’s call during Brisbane’s loss to the Jackjumpers. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

The Brisbane Bullets are doing their best to remain patient in their search for an NBL win.

The Bullets have failed to live up to the hype following the off-season signings of former NBA pair Aron Baynes and Tyler Johnson.

And having started the new season with three successive losses, it doesn’t get any easier for the Bullets, who meet reigning champions Sydney at Nissan Arena on Sunday.

The Kings have already beaten Brisbane this season, but Bullets co-captain Jason Cadee said the loss was another example of his side being in a contest but failing to finish the job.

“Every game we’ve been in,” Cadee said.

“It’s not like we’re far away but it’s where the league’s at. It’s hard to sit and think you’re just going to win games. Everyone’s so good that you just have to close off games when you get the chance.”

Jason Cadee reacts to a call in Brisbane’s loss to the Jackjumpers. Picture: Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images

Cadee said the acquisition of Boomers big man Baynes and classy guard Johnson had raised the expectations of Bullets fans.

“Once we signed ‘Baynesy’ and Tyler the talk went to a new level, but we were also as a group understanding of where we’re at – things weren’t going to just magically happen,” he said.

“Our three main guys (Baynes, Johnson and Boomers guard Nathan Sobey) haven’t played proper consistent basketball in recent times.

“We’re slowly getting there. You can train as much as you want but once you get in a game it’s a different feel.

“Guys are starting to get more comfortable with the minutes they’re playing and that will only help as we keep trying to build and get into the real grind of the season.”

Boomers big man Aron Baynes is still searching for his first NBL win with the Brisbane Bullets. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

However, with “pressure” building, the sooner the Bullets win, the better it will be for Cadee’s team.

“I’m not worried but you don’t want to be putting yourself behind the eight ball. At some point we’re going to have to get the ball rolling, and that’s in the wins column,” he said.

“Being able to just tick off a win eases some of the pressure that can build. It will help ease people’s minds a little bit.

“It’s about trying to build through the process and getting to where we need to be as a collective, so once we get one win, we’ll string two, three, four, five wins together.

“If we do the right things by ourselves and have a nice crowd on Sunday to cheer us on, it will go a long way towards us winning our first game at home this season.”

Originally published as Bullets keen to kickstart their NBL season with win over Sydney Kings