Bullets ‘too soft’ after Wildcats carve-up

BRISBANE veteran Adam Gibson says the Bullets have been “too soft” in their past two games and need to man up in Thursday’s clash with Perth.

The Wildcats mauled Brisbane in the first half of Saturday’s encounter at Perth’s RAC Arena on the way to a convincing 88-73 win to remain unbeaten in the 2018-19 NBL season.

Perth import Bryce Cotton carved Brisbane up with 28 points as the Wildcats dominated the rebound count early to set up a telling 15-point halftime lead.

The re-match is at the Brisbane Convention Centre at Southbank on Thursday night.

Two-time NBL champion and 2012 Olympian Gibson said the Bullets had to make amends for a lacklustre first half that followed an 18-point loss to Cairns last weekend.

“We just need to play tougher. They got secondchance points (in the first half) ... and that killed us,” Gibson said. “We just need to man up, look at yourself in the mirror as individuals and come out and execute.

“We are just not getting the job done. Playing too soft and not aggressive.

“We aren’t stepping in and shooting our shots like we should. We’re passive.

“I think we are just playing too soft as a group and that’s shown the last two games.

“Any time you are let down as a professional, as a player in any sport, you want to come back and try to make amends. It’s lucky we get to play them again so soon.”

Gibson said the Bullets had to crack down on Cotton in the return fixture as they attempt to snap a two-game losing run that has taken the shine off the promising win over New Zealand scored in the season opener.