Being relentless, building identity key for Weaver

Two games in and Will Weaver would be just as happy if the Brisbane Bullets were 0-2 or 2-0 provided team are building something sustainable and performing to their standards, and that's just what they have done.

It has been an impressive start to Weaver's time in charge of the Bullets firstly with the 88-85 win at Pat Rafter Arena against the New Zealand Breakers before backing it up beating the Illawarra Hawks 103-95 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Almost 10,000 fans attended those two home wins at different venues for the Bullets too and there was plenty to like.

There were numbers that stood out over the two games including from Arnas Velička (40 points, 25 assists, nine rebounds), Max Mackinnon (40 points, 19 rebounds), Nate Hinton (30 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists, six steals), Tyrell Harrison (39 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks) and Jacob Holt (18 points, seven rebounds).

But those numbers are the last thing Weaver is worried about, he's just focused on getting his team playing the right way and he hopes the people of Brisbane have liked what they've seen so far.

"I really appreciate everybody showing up and I know there was a big footy game on at the same time but the crowd was great," Weaver said.

"The crowd that was here were frickin fantastic. I'm glad they got a chance for northside to come out and support and I'm sure there were new faces in the crowd as opposed to Pat Rafter. I would hope that we have them tell their friends based on what they've seen so far."

There is plenty to like from what the Bullets have produced in the first two home wins against the Breakers and Hawks, but Weaver is focused on what they can still improve.

Weaver wants his team to become renowned for making sure the next possession is always the most important one, and who maintain their relentless approach, and that's still a work in progress.

"I haven’t reflected on what was pleasing or not, we want to be a basketball program that takes the next possession as the most important possession of the game, and does that relentlessly. We're not there yet," Weaver said.

"The standard is going to continue to remain high and we don't sign one-way players. We don’t sign guys that don't compete on both ends every possession and if I see that drop, I substitute them and we trust that the next guy coming in will be able to bring us back to that standard.

"I credit these guys and a lot of the times that I'm subbing is just coz they're tired because they're playing their arse off. We can be a team that hands the baton off and plays with that mentality as long as we keep the standard where it is."

Weaver is happy to leave it to others to point out the good things individual players are producing because what his focus is on building a club culture that breeds success, and that has its own distinct Bullets identity.

Whether that's those producing match-winning performances like Velička or Mackinnon, or injured players like Sam McDaniel or Taine Murray providing energy on the bench, Weaver just wants his entire group to be contributing in whatever way they can.

"I feel fortunate enough to coach every single one of these players and Jacob had some amazing moments, Tyrell did too, but so did Mitch Norton and even the energy that Taine and Sammy Mac brought in street clothes," Weaver said.

"We're on the journey to building a club that people know when they come and play against us, or when they watch us, and buy a jersey of a player, it's because it represents something.

"What it represents a selflessness and competitiveness and a physicality, and appreciation and I can say the same about every single guy in that locker room."

While from the outside the 2-0 start is impressive for the Bullets, that's the last thing that Weaver is worried about and he didn’t even know Mackinnon had got to 30 points on Friday night before he was told afterwards.

He wants his players to get in the habit of doing all the right things all the time because should they do that, the results will take care of themselves.

"I couldn’t be less focused on what our record is and I had no idea he had 30 points until somebody told me after the game," Weaver said.

"None of our focus is on outcomes, all of our focus is on process and that's how you end up with outcomes.

"Sometimes you go 6/8 and sometimes you go 2/8, but if it's the same shots you feel the exact same way about it. I don't think there's a risk of that based on what I feel from our group."