SuperCoach NBL round 20: How to win your grand final

It is the last round of the season! Whether you are trying to win a grand final or reach the highest ranking you can, these are the players to target.

It doesn’t matter if your team is charging or flopping. Benny, Banksy and Boydie – the Basketball Blokes – are here to assist with tips to help you rebound.

It is the last round of the season! If you are trying to win your league grand final or reach the highest ranking you can, these are the players you should consider bringing in your SuperCoach NBL side for round 20.

There are 4 teams with double-game rounds. We break down the outlook and options for each side.

MELBOURNE UNITED

Opponents

Melbourne United finish the season with a trip north to Cairns followed by a home contest against the Illawarra Hawks. Aside from South East Melbourne, the Taipans have been the other team conceding huge SuperCoach points recently. This included a massive 229 points against Perth last round. The Hawks have been tough. So overall, it is one tough match-up and one enticing contest.

Ladder Situation

Melbourne United have virtually secured top spot on the NBL ladder, so we naturally have concerns regarding rest. However, Dean Vickerman has given us some indication as to what his plans are. In a recent interview Vickerman stated that they will be playing their main guys really good minutes, maybe not to the 30-minute mark but maybe somewhere in the mid-20 to 30. Vickerman noted that as there is a 2 week break before an eventual semi-final series for the top 2 sides; and that they want to get good minutes into everybody in the games that remain.

Prior Games

Luke Travers $357,200GRD/FWD29,22 (Cairns) 31,7 (Hawks)

Lo Lual-Acuil $358,200CTR30,17 (Cairns) 15,24 (Hawks)

Matthew Dellavedova $286,300GRD31,21 (Cairns) DNP’s (Hawks)

Chris Goulding $218,300GRD/FWD25,18 (Cairns) 18,36 (Hawks)

Breakdown

Rest concerns aside, no Melbourne United player has been playing excessive minutes this season. Jo Lual-Acuil is top 3 in SuperCoach points per minute this season and Luke Travers is also above the elite 1 point per minute mark. JLA’s 42 SuperCoach points last game came from only 27 minutes played. No United player played more than 29 minutes last round. The numbers from the prior contests are not exciting, but each of these candidates should be in contention to provide you 45 SuperCoach points this round assuming they play both games. This estimate would be an elite score for anyone on a single game to achieve, so you should consider trading your single-game players to double-game round candidates this week. The Melbourne players are certainly options for you, but given Vickerman’s comments you may not want to Captain any of them.

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr is top three in SuperCoach points per minute this season. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

PERTH WILDCATS

Opponents

The Wildcats finish the season on the road against the Hawks and JackJumpers. The JackJumpers are the single toughest team to score SuperCoach points against this season and the Hawks have been really tough ever since Tatum took over.

Ladder Situation

The Wildcats have secured a top 2 finish and are likely locked into second position on the ladder. This makes the Wildcats a prime candidate to rest or manage their key players. However, as is the case with Melbourne United, resting players this week would result in a 3-week absence, given a 2-week rest is already locked in via the FIBA break and play in round. I’d suspect that Perth would manage minutes of their players rather than opting to rest them all together. Hopefully we get an update about their intentions.

Prior Games

Bryce Cotton $405,200GRD28,21 (Hawks) 38,44 (JJ’s)

Keanu Pinder $326,400FWD/CTR30,15 (Hawks) 28,38 (JJ’s)

Kristian Doolittle $289,300FWD14,32 (Hawks) 8,15 (JJ’s)

Jordan Usher $233,700FWD 25,17 (Hawks) 36,17 (JJ’s)

Tai Webster $235,400GRDDNP,17 (Hawks) 0,17 (JJ’s)

Alex Sarr $198,900FWD/CTR 27,6 (Hawks) 25,15 (JJ’s)

Breakdown

The Hawks have been the Bryce Cotton stoppers all season long. They send multiple bodies at Bryce every time he gets the ball and have significantly hampered his SuperCoach scoring in prior games. Despite this, Bryce still has the highest average of the Perth players against their opponents this round going at 32.75 on average. Will he rest? That is the question that guessing correctly will likely win SuperCoach championships for people this season. Pinder looks to be a solid Froling alternative based on these prior numbers, especially as Pinder does not play high minutes generally. Both Alex Sarr and Jordan Usher outperform their average against this week’s opponents and are also viable targets.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS

Opponents

The Hawks finish the season with a home game against Perth and an away contest against Melbourne United. Both Perth and Melbourne have been tougher than average to score SuperCoach points against throughout the season. However, with each of these sides having secured a top 2 position on the NBL ladder, we may not see the typical Perth and Melbourne line-ups.

Ladder Situation

The Hawks are in the 6 at present but will be determined to win both of their games. Firstly, they still need to secure their play in spot with victories and secondly, they will want to finish as high as possible to ensure the most chances to navigate their way through the play-in element of the postseason.

Prior Games

Gary Clark $372,600FWD43,28 (Perth) 39,37 (Melb)

Sam Froling $316,600FWD/CTR30,15 (Perth) 12,31 (Melb)

Tyler Harvey $ 284,200GRD36,26 (Perth) 22,15 (Melb)

Justin Robinson $235,700GRD 13,22 (Perth) 25,36 (Melb)

Breakdown

Gary Clark remains the priority pick-up for the Hawks. He averages 36.75 against this week’s opponents and has been their primary SuperCoach scorer all season long. Froling has poor form against this week’s opponents so try and pay up for Clark if you are deciding between the 2. As far as the guard options go, both are viable trade targets with Harvey averaging in excess of 30 SuperCoach points against this week’s opponents.

Gary Clark of the Hawks is a priority pick. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS

Opponents

The Breakers have a blockbuster home match-up against the Bullets. They finish their season traveling to the city of Churches to take on the 36ers.

Ladder Situation

The Breakers have a percentage advantage over the Bullets that would secure them a play-in berth with a victory. In good news for NBL SuperCoaches, if they lose against the Bullets, they will still have it all to play for in their final game. They also have a shot at 4th position entering the round which means the Breakers will be going all out.

Prior Games

Zylan Cheatham $304,600FWD17,14 (Bris) 28, DNP (36ers)

Jackson-Cartwright $350,100GRD29,26 (Bris) 22,46 (36ers)

McDowell-White $205,200GRD30,14 (Bris) DNP, 26 (36ers)

Rubstavicius $179,700FWD DNP, 20 (Bris) 6,2 (36ers)

Mangok Mathiang $187,100FWD/CTR8,9 (Bris) 2,9 (36ers)

Breakdown

Parker Jackson-Cartwright is the number one target this week for your SuperCoach side. Whilst he doesn’t have breathtaking form against his upcoming opponents, he was very aggressive in the absence of Anthony Lamb last round. He also doesn’t have the threat of rest that some of the other options do. Other players that have had greater opportunities with Lamb out have been Mathiang and Cheatham. Both are trade targets this week with Zylan on your court and Mangok on your bench ideally. In positive news, Will McDowell-White played against United having left the prior game with an ankle injury. Despite his 0 SuperCoach score last round, Mantas is still a trade target, just pray he doesn’t have foul trouble this week.

Final Summary

Be somewhat cautious when bringing in United and Perth players this week given their rest concern. Perth also has a couple of really tough matchups. Players from both clubs are still viable options this week as they do have the advantage of the double-game round (should they play both games) The Hawks and New Zealand have it all to play for this week and have some great trade in targets. If you are in a league final, make sure to look at your opponent when considering trading in players to either match or vary from their line-ups. Going for a left-field Captain option can be a good tactic if you have a worse side on paper too. Good luck! And many thanks from the Basketball Blokes for reading and listening throughout the year.

Originally published as SuperCoach NBL round 20: How to win your grand final