Shot clock: Quickfire guide to setting up your SuperCoach NBL team for round 17

Finals are here in SuperCoach NBL head-to-head leagues – and there’s an early start to round 17 on Thursday. Get all your trade tips here.

We’ve made it to the business end – round 17 is the first round of finals in most head-to-head leagues in SuperCoach NBL.

That means its do or die for many teams, while others are playing for a crucial week off.

Every NBL team is on the double again this round – and there’s no time to waste with trades before the Breakers and JackJumpers kick off the round with a 5.30pm (AEDT) start on Thursday, January 16.

Here’s everything you need to know to pursue your quest for SuperCoach glory.

ON THE DOUBLE

The schedule is the key to SuperCoach NBL success. Targeting players from teams that play twice in a round will give you twice as many opportunities to score points.

Every team is on the double again in round 17 – but if you’re planning your finals assault it could pay to prioritise teams that play twice in the final three rounds of the season.

The Adelaide 36ers are top of the list as the only team on the double in round 18 and 19, while Cairns Taipans also play twice over the finals rounds.

In round 18 there are four teams are on the double: Adelaide 36ers, Brisbane Bullets, Cairns Taipans and NZ Breakers.

In round 19 the 36ers are joined by Perth Wildcats, SEM Phoenix and Tasmania JackJumpers.

In round 20, the final round of the season and SuperCoach NBL grand final week, Adelaide plays once while Cairns Taipans and Illawarra Hawks are the only teams on the double.

Montrezl Harrell is a top trade target. Picture: Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images

Based on that schedule Adelaide 36ers players are top of the shopping list. Kendric Davis (GRD) is the topscorer in the game and already features in most teams – if you haven’t got him, this is the time to fix that! The next best buy is Montrezl Harrell (CTR/FWD), who scored 90 points over the 36ers’ two games in round 17.

If you want a point of difference who also comes in almost $100k cheaper, Isaac Humphries (CTR) has shown he can put up big numbers with Harrell in the team, scoring above 28 in four of his past five games including 45 points against the JackJumpers.

The Taipans’ schedule puts players like Sam Waardenburg (CTR), Taran Armstrong (GRD) and Pedro Bradshaw (GRD) on the radar this round.

And don’t forget about NZ Breakers superstar Parker Jackson-Cartwright, who returns from suspension on Thursday night.

The most traded out players are likely to be injured pair Tyrell Harrison and Derrick Walton Jr – the SEM GRD is set to miss the rest of the regular season.

Derrick Walton Jr. left the game with a reported hamstring injury in the first quarter.

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— NBL (@NBL) January 11, 2025

TRADE IN

1. Montrezl Harrell (ADL)

2. Sam Waardenburg (CNS)

3. Taran Armstrong (CNS)

4. Dejan Vasiljevic (ADL)

5. Parker Jackson-Cartwright (NZ)

TRADE OUT

1. Derrick Walton Jr (SEM)

2. Tyrell Harrison (BRIS)

3. Trey Kell (ILL)

4. Mason Peatling (ILL)

5. Lachlan Olbrich (ILL)

CAPTAIN CALL

It’s another Kendric Davis versus Bryce Cotton showdown for the C this round. The 36ers and Wildcats face off on Friday night before Adelaide plays Cairns and Perth finishes the round against Melbourne United. SuperCoach Plus is projecting a 106 from Davis and 92 from Cotton, with Casey Prather (91) next in line.

Originally published as Shot clock: Quickfire guide to setting up your SuperCoach NBL team for round 17