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PHYSICAL, aggressive and team-orientated. It’s the Australian way on the basketball court. And it is how Brisbane plan to lower the colours of the Phoenix Suns this Saturday in the final match of the historic series between NBL and NBA clubs.
Bullets guard Adam Gibson is a veteran of international basketball after representing the Boomers at the 2012 Olympics and multiple World Cups in seven years with the Australian team. So crossing paths with NBA talent is not new for the dual NBL championship winner. He said the Bullets need to embrace the Australian way when they step out under the big lights of Talking Stick Resort Arena on Saturday.
“We have to stay true to our style which is physical basketball. We need to stay aggressive,’’ Gibson said. “You have to be strong with your cuts, be strong with the ball and set hard screens to get your teammates open. You just have to be solid in everything you do. We need to look after the ball because turnovers will kill us. They’re longer and more athletic than us so we have to keep it simple and not throw it away. It’s a great opportunity and we want to make the most of it. The first two games with Sydney and Melbourne have been really good so we want to continue that and do the NBL proud..’’
Gibson said the Bullets needed to muscle-up and communicate on defence. “The NBA style is to play a lot of one-on-one so they aren’t used to seeing teams who play a lot of help defence,’’ he said. “We are playing under their rules but we will be looking to slow them down by defending as a team and always looking to help.’’ Gibson is one of the better backcourt defenders in the NBL and will be handed the task of guarding either Devon Booker or Eric Bledsoe.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/basketball/brisbane-bullets-to-take-aggressive-australian-approach-in-clash-with-phoenix-suns-on-saturday/news-story/404daa968ac0ad36420d8d30108ed990
