Weaver wants Bullets to embrace response

Thursday night at home to Cairns didn’t go how Will Weaver hoped but he's looking forward to the response of the Brisbane Bullets on Sunday while high on the performance of Taine Murray, and glad to reward Rio Bruton and Billy McRae.

It was a tough evening at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for the Bullets in the second Sunshine Stoush of NBL27 with the eventual 22-point defeat on a night where they had 25 turnovers and their opponents made 20 three-pointers.

As always, though, there are positives in any situation and there was no room for charity minutes late in the game and the fact Weaver called two late timeouts showed how seriously he was taking those last minutes even if the result was out of reach.

Every point still counts in the NBL so there's no such thing as charity minutes from Weaver and he was high on the performance of Taine Murray who top scored with 20 points and five triples, but also the energy provided late by Harry Rouhliadeff, Bruton and McRae.

"I'm glad to have Taine Murray back and the contributions that Harry Rouhliadeff makes, Billy McRae, Rio, all those guys," Weaver said.

"Those aren't like pity minutes, those are like minutes because we need energy and we need guys who are going to play the way they played.

"I was super pleased with their approach and I wasn't the least bit surprised because that's how they approach training every day."

Murray missed the opening six games of the season while recovering from off-season surgery but has wasted no time slotting right back in after returning against the Tasmania JackJumpers last Wednesday night.

Then on Thursday against Cairns, he was a real shining light in the 22-point loss with a team-high 20 points in almost 21 minutes of court time and knocking down 5/10 from beyond the arc.

Weaver knows he can shoot and will encourage him to continue to do so, but his admiration of Murray goes well and truly beyond just what he's doing during a game with his diligence to everything related to his game, to basketball and to get the best out of himself all with the team's interest at heart.

"You guys don't see it, but the impact he's had ever since he was on crutches, the way he helps coach during practice, the way that he supports his teammates and what he does on the sidelines during games," Weaver said.

"He's tracked different stats and schemes on clipboards. This dude is like the consummate professional and never has a bad day.

"He's completely committed to mind, body, spirit and being the best teammate he can be and person he can be, and athlete he can be.

"Taking 10 threes is his calling card but what he brings to our team is so much more than just shooting because of how he approaches his work and how committed he is in doing the hard stuff that a lot of other professional basketball players aren't willing to do."

The last five minutes of the game also saw Weaver take the opportunity to give development players McRae and Bruton their first NBL minutes.

Both have joined the Bullets this season with great stories behind them with Bruton the third generation of his famous family to play at Brisbane on the back of his legendary grandad, Cal, and father, CJ.

Then there's McRae, who has developed his craft in Western Australia and came through firstly in the NBL1 West at the Perry Lakes Hawks, and then his game went to another level in 2026 at the Warwick Senators, leading to this NBL opportunity.

"I know what those guys bring and I would never hesitate to put them into the game," Weaver said.

"There's a reason why we dress those guys for every game and I wish that the context had been a little different tonight of course. But I have a really clear idea about how those guys can help win a basketball game as individuals and as part of the team.

"Both those young fellows are going to go on to amazing things and we appreciate them and their families and their representatives' trust in us to help them grow as they're on a journey towards some really special stuff that's coming."

Weaver came into the match up with the Taipans knowing the Bullets had to take care of the ball if they didn’t want to give the chance for their opponents to let that fuel their offence.

Instead, the Bullets had seven turnovers in each of the first two quarters with the Taipans taking advantage with 57 first-half points and making 10 three-pointers to open up a 22-point lead.

Brisbane tried to fight back in the second half but could never get close enough to strike ending the night with 25 turnovers and conceding 20 made threes in the eventual 22-point defeat.

It was a simple summation afterwards from Weaver.

"(It was an) ass kicking," Weaver said.

"Full respect to Cairns, they did what they do really well by turning people over, they block shots and they collapse on you.

"Then at the other end, they have great skill and they play for each other, and that's a testament to those players and that coaching staff.

"They're a difficult team to play against and we made them look particularly good this evening.

"We're No. 10 in turnovers in the league playing against the No. 1 steals team in the league, we talked about it pre-game and we talked about it all week. You don't give yourself a chance to win with the decisions that we made in those environments."

One tough loss doesn’t do anything to the faith that Weaver has in the character and identity of the players he is coaching at the Bullets, though, and he's looking for them to embrace the challenge to respond against the 36ers in Adelaide on Sunday.

"It's a simple game for complicated people and we have to keep focused on the boring little details that add up," Weaver said.

"At this point in the season, we have an identity and at this point in their careers, these players have an identity.

"We've gotta reflect and bring that identity to one of, if not the, toughest places to play against a team that's loaded with superstars.

"We have to embrace and get excited about the challenge of going on the road, and taking care of enough details to give ourselves a chance to win."