'We have been Jekyll and Hyde': Bruton

A frustrated CJ Bruton said he needs to get his side ‘playing the right way’ to m,ake a late push for an NBL23 playoff spot.

The 36ers lost their fourth straight game on Thursday night, a 106-101 overtime thriller against the Bullets in Brisbane, and will need to win their next four matches to have a chance to make the top six.

“I’d be lying to say I wasn’t (frustrated), but in saying that my job is to make these guys and show every way we can win the ball game and keep them from being frustrated with each other,” Bruton said.

“The things you can control, you are supposed to go after them all and there’s times where I think we haven’t given that all, which has come back to bite us.”

Adelaide fought back from a 13-point deficit in the second quarter against the Bullets, but Bruton said his side has lapses which they can’t afford.

“We have been Jekyll and Hyde all season and we had our patches tonight,” he said.

“Like every game, we had some breakdowns from individuals and the team and the concept we were trying to get done.

“I was proud of our fightback but it doesn’t change the result in the end.

“We weren’t able to close the deal.”

Adelaide now must rebound in 48 hours to face a red hot Melbourne United at the Entertainment Centre on Saturday night.

“Right now the focus is on us and focus on playing the right way,” Bruton said.