The Brisbane Bullets have been labelled soft by their own captain and the Perth Wildcats are now bracing themselves for the backlash.
The Bullets copped an 88-73 NBL pasting from the Wildcats in Perth on Saturday, with the loss coming on the back of an 88-70 home defeat to Cairns.
Brisbane captain Adam Gibson says his team were too soft in those games and has urged them to man up when they host the Wildcats on Thursday.
Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson gathered his troops together after training on Monday to warn them of the potential onslaught that awaits them in Brisbane.
Martin said it was important for his group to be on-guard for a Bullets backlash.
"Anytime a player calls out his teammates and calls them soft - and especially if it's the captain and someone that's as highly regarded as Gibbo - his teammates will respond," Martin said.
"If they're going to step up and play physically, we'll prepare for it but it's nothing we haven't faced."
The Bullets will have to do more homework on Bryce Cotton after the star Wildcats import scored 28 points against them on Saturday.
And even Martin got in on the fun, nailing four long-range bombs to finish with 12 points.
The Sydney Kings and Melbourne United dominated the pre-season hype but it's the Wildcats who find themselves on top of the ladder with a 3-0 record.
Martin praised the influence of Boomers duo Nick Kay and Mitch Morton in Perth's hot start to the season.
He said the duo were better that him and Matt Knight at a similar age.
"They've brought that blue-collar work ethic combined with high IQ and high skill," Martin said.
"It's what coaches dream of having and what players dream of playing alongside.
"Norto is definitely better than what I was as a young pup.
"He's probably more aggressive on the offensive end. I love having him as a teammate.
"He and Nick are two guys the club will hopefully build around for the next eight to 10 years."
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