Bullets gear up for Blitz on the Gold Coast

In an exciting pre-season, the Brisbane Bullets have four games under their belts ahead of the NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast starting Saturday with the season itself now just two weeks away from beginning.

The Bullets have played more matches than any other team in the league recording victories against the Shanghai Sharks, Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix, and losing a thriller on Wednesday in Mount Gambier to the Adelaide 36ers.

The pre-season campaign began for the Bullets at Nissan Arena against Chinese visitors Shanghai with Brisbane scoring the 94-75 victory.

On the back of his standout NBL1 North season at the Southern Districts Spartans, 116-game centre Tyrell Harrison delivered 18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks on 8/9 shooting.

Deng Adel also impressed in his first appearance in Bullets colours with the former NBA forward putting up 15 points and six assists with new captain Mitch Norton adding 15 points.

New import pair Keandre Cook (13 points, three steals) and James Batemon (12 points, two steals) had their moments too with Tohi Smith-Milner contributing eight points, six rebounds and four assists, and Casey Prather seven points in 18 minutes.

Next up was a trip to Melbourne beginning on Tuesday night with the 90-75 victory against United with Adel again a standout with 24 points on 7/10 shooting along with going 8/8 at the free-throw line.

Harrison was able to shine again too with 20 points, six rebounds and three steals on 10/12 shooting with fellow big man Rocco Zikarsky adding 10 points, eight boards and two blocks in almost 20 minutes.

Another young gun, Kye Savage, got out and even had a dunk in transition in his 11 points while Batemon finished with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists, Cook eight points, three assists and three steals, and Norton four points and a steal.

Two days later and it was another win, 92-86, against the Phoenix with Harrison once again a dominant presence for the third time in less than a week with 24 points, 11 rebounds and two steals.

Adel had another big performance with 16 points, three assists and three rebounds on 6/8 shooting with Zikarsky continuing to show how far he is improving just as an 18-year-old with 16 points, seven boards and two blocked shots.

Cook also had 11 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals, Batemon 10 points and eight assists, and Jarred Bairstow six points, five rebounds and three assists as he returns home in NBL25 after winning a championship at the Tasmania JackJumpers.

The Bullets then took on the 36ers in Mount Gambier on Wednesday night and while it was a 97-96 win for Adelaide thanks to a four-point play at the death from Sunday Dech, Brisbane took plenty from it especially playing without Sam McDaniel, Harrison, Prather, Bannan and Norton.

Smith-Milner stepped up in the front court for 19 points and five rebounds with Bairstow also putting up 10 points and nine boards.

Adel continued his tremendous form with 17 points and six rebounds with Batemon contributing 15 points and five boards, Cook 14 points and four rebounds, Isaac White 12 points and three assists, and Zikarsky another nine points and 10 boards.

The Bullets now head to the Gold Coast for the NBL Blitz with the first match up against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Saturday evening before playing Melbourne United on Tuesday and the Cairns Taipans the following Saturday.