Schueller sees Bullets get swagger back

The ability of his Brisbane Bullets team to fight through adversity and remain in the NBL top six hunt continues to be a great source of pride for coach Justin Schueller, and that's why he remains confident in them keeping on winning.

The Bullets kept their hopes of making the top six alive with a gritty win in Christchurch on Friday night where they overcame an early 12-2 lead for the New Zealand Breakers to grab the lead minutes later and never surrender it again.

Brisbane were still without Tyrell Harrison, Rocco Zikarsky and Emmett Naar, but Casey Prather was back in the line-up and combined with Keandre Cook for quite the one-two punch as they delivered 50 points on 10/23 three-point shooting.

It was anything but a two man show, though, as Josh Bannan (17 points, seven rebounds) and Tohi Smith-Milner (10 points, seven boards) did an admirable job in the front court, and Mitch Norton led from the front despite foul trouble.

There was a lot for Schueller to be proud of with the Bullets snapping the four-game losing streak to improve to an 11-15 record to remain a chance still of nabbing a top six spot just behind Adelaide and Tasmania who are both 12-13.

"It was a massive effort by the boys and the amount of adversity this group's faced and to just keep sticking with it, and keep pushing forward is what I'm impressed most with," Schueller said.

"We keep talking about we're not dead yet and that's the resolve that we saw in that game. I'm just super proud right now but it's a quick turnaround for us and it's about this next one because that's all we're focusing on is keeping this thing going."

After a third straight win over New Zealand for this season, the Bullets have a short turnaround to hosting Melbourne United on Sunday afternoon in their last regular season game at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Brisbane's season will again go on the line before what will be the most critical match up of the run home in Adelaide next Friday. Schueller has reason for confidence in the Bullets after they snapped their losing run against Melbourne back on December 8 by putting up 122 points.

"We just got this series win against New Zealand and we've got an opportunity to get the series win against Melbourne, and that's front of mind for us," Schueller said.

"I also felt we got our swagger and vibe back just by having bodies around so that's what is exciting to me is that the vibe's there with the group, and the understanding of what we need to go and get done.

"There's also depth there now for us so I'm really looking forward to getting home in front of our home fans and we want to make sure we put on a deserving show to get that opportunity to keep our season alive."

The Bullets played their fourth straight game without either of their seven-footers on Friday night. With no return date set yet for Harrison (concussion) or Zikarsky (knee), reinforcements were needed.

While it's too late to sign a new player in usual circumstances, the Bullets were granted permission to bring in Callum Dalton as a replacement for Harrison and he played an important five-minute role up against Tacko Fall and the Breakers.

What most pleased Schueller about the permission being granted is that Dalton has earned the chance as a training player with the Bullets trying to bang down the door for another NBL chance on the back of standout NBL1 North season at the Logan Thunder.

"It's a negative we're trying to turn into a positive. We're not real sure when Ty's back and we're hoping he gets better day by day, but Cal's been with us the last two years and with me a lot longer going back to being a DP at Melbourne," Schueller said.

"He's been in our building for two years working away, making us better every week in a practice environment, and it's great for him to have the opportunity and to come in seamlessly to give us exactly what we need.

"He's earnt the right and the opportunity that's afforded to him, and what I love is the excitement the group had when we were able to make Cal a part of our group.

"He's been as much a part of our culture and brotherhood the last two years as anyone else, and we know he's going to continue to help us forge forward as we make this closing run."