Mid-Season Report Card: Brisbane Bullets

With the Hungry Jack's NBL26 competition currently on a time-out due to FIBA Break, NBL Media has decided to assess each of the 10 teams and give them a mid-season report card.

During this series, one expert on NBL Now will evaluate the team's progress through the first 10 rounds, while also naming their most improved and MVPs.

Finally, they will each give the team a grade and predicted finishing spot.

The next cab off the ranks, after the Perth Wildcats, Illawarra Hawks, Adelaide 36ers, Tasmania JackJumpers and Cairns Taipans are the Brisbane Bullets, with the team's performance analysed by former Boomers champion, Aron Baynes.

Report card score: C

Look, I'm a fence-sitter right now. It's a C right now just based on injuries. There's moments where they've looked really good. There's moments where they've looked defeated from those injuries as well. There's some external factors, there's some internal factors, and hopefully Mitch (Norton) being there will really change that internal belief and confidence in those guys. And Tyrell (Harrison) going out there and being who he has to be. I think they could definitely get it to a B+ by the end of the season though.

What you like: Upcoming continuity

Continuity will be good. With JFL (Javon Freeman-Liberty) back, hopefully healthy and mentally ready to contribute again, he can get back to what he was in the pre-season and early on for them. It'll be a big lift for them as well as Terry Taylor [reported signing]. He's a bit of an unknown for Australian basketball in general, but he's been able to have an impact at points over there in the States. It’ll be interesting to see how quickly they can mould him into the role that they want him to fulfil there. You know, some big shoes he's coming in to try and replace what Casey's (Prather) been able to do for them.

I think early on it's Tyrell's team. Tyrell's got to go out there and take that next step again and really be a dominant force. He's one of the best bigs in the league. I'd love to see him be the best big over the end of the season.

Brisbane have had a lot of opportunities for these young guys and we saw them all being able to contribute last night as well [in the World Cup Qualifier], which is fun seeing what they can do representing their country and that little bit of confidence. You're under scrutiny, but at the same time people know what you could be capable of. Step up and show us what it is.

What needs to change: Finding more scorers

They need to replace some scoring there with Casey. Tyrell, I really hope to see him take that next step in terms of just being dominant each time he steps out there on the floor. He has the ability, has the skill. Does he want to do it? I think so. He's just a little bit too unselfish at times, which we saw last night as well. That to me is the biggest key.

Last night as well, (Alex) Ducas missed some open shots. You really want to see those guys be able to be more consistent and especially in those good play movements where the ball's swinging and you want to see those shots get knocked down and build the confidence. If they have that from two or three guys deep on the bench that can come in and knock down shots and add consistent scoring, I think that's what Brisbane needs.

The defence is a bit hit and miss with Tyrell trying to extend his minutes and when he's more aggressive though, he looks better. They all look better as a team. That's a tough one. I'm asking a lot of Tyrell, but that's what you want. You want your best players to go out there and be the ones that get the team to wins.

Most improved player: Tristan Devers

He's that development player and they're trying to build him. But when Mitch went down and then Jaylen (Adams) went to the bench, I saw some really good things from Tristan in those moments. He controlled the team and pushed and got them playing the defence that is the head of the snake. He's up there interfering with guys and getting them going. So I liked seeing that.

If Casey was still healthy, it's crazy to say, but he would have been the most improved for me, what he was able to do consistently. So it sucks that they've lost what he's been able to do, but it's now on those next guys and see what Terry brings to the table as well. And maybe JFL steps back into that early pre-season form and if he does that, then Brisbane's going to be dangerous.

Team MVP: Casey Prather

Again, Casey has to be the guy. Unfortunately his season's done now, but Tyrell wasn't far off what he was contributing anyway. So it was between those two for me.

It's going to be Tyrell I think come the end of the season. I've talked about him a fair bit this time, but I want to see him take that next step to the NBA as well. I think he's one of the top three guys in the NBL now that should be in the NBA. So I want him to go and prove it to everyone.

Who needs to step up: Mitch Norton

I've talked about him a lot, but you talked about Mitch and Mitch sat out more games than he ever wants to sit out in a season. So he's going to be that guy that comes in and you see what he brings to the team when he puts his body on the line. He's never going to be in the wrong position. I think he's the heart and soul of the team in terms of making sure everyone's playing the right way they want to play. So I don't know if it's step up, but just stay healthy. Looking forward to seeing Mitch do his thing.

Finishing prediction: Challenging for a Play-In spot

The bottom half is all so tight, right? I mean it's not that far from the top half down to the bottom half either. It's a short season, but the blessing is there's more games this year as well. So if they can flip their record from what it is in the second half, they'll be right there in the hunt. It’ll be an interesting one because there were a few games that I thought they could have won pretty easily, but they just let them slip. So if they can even change three or four of those into wins, they're going to be there.

Particularly at home too. They're four and four on the road, one and six at home. Now that's a bit of a trend among a couple of teams this season, but if they can start jagging a few more of those wins in front of their home fans, then all of a sudden things could really start to open up for them.