SuperCoach NBL 2023: Best point of difference picks, standouts from NBL Blitz
How do you set your SuperCoach NBL team apart from the pack? Throw in one more of these under-the-radar gems. See Michael Randall’s POD rankings.
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At this point, many SuperCoach NBL line-ups will likely have a similar look, built around coveted keys like Alex Sarr, Bryce Cotton and Luke Travers.
That trio features in nearly half of the teams currently registered.
But to the brave go the spoils, so to stand out from the pack and stake your claim for the awesome major prize of a Mitsubishi ASX GS 2WD AUTO, valued at more than $29,000, you need a point of difference.
Mick Randall takes a look at the players the SuperCoach community is ignoring right now, who could be among the best scorers in the game in NBL24, plus the stars and surprises at the NBL Blitz, with stats from basketballblokes.com.
TOP FIVE
Shannon Scott (BRI) $313,300 GRD – ownership: 1.9 per cent
It’s either the former Taipan-turned-Bullets playmaker or Tassies Milton Doyle at the top of my POD rankings. I just have a feeling Scott is going to have a big year in his new digs. New coach Justin Schueller is trying to mould the Bullets in his image and it starts with the consummate pro – who would have ranked 12th overall for SuperCoach scoring with 27 points per game last season – at the point. A potential Mitch Norton timeshare is a concern, but the talent around Scott is there and that should help him have a huge impact.
Milton Doyle (TAS) $344,600 GRD – 6.1 per cent
Have we all forgotten the season Doyle had in Tassie last year and why the Jackies gave him so long to give them an answer on his future? Doyle’s a SuperCoach stud – almost 30 points per night – and, while he hasn’t blown anyone away in the pre-season, sometimes the big guns save their best for the important stuff. Should be among the best scorers in the game and is criminally underowned at 6.1 per cent.
Trey Kell (ADE) $261,300 GRD – 0.8 per cent
Cheaper than the new import starting price on account of his production last season, Kell is a risk v reward proposition. The risk is he has a second injury-interrupted season – he already missed the Blitz with a knee issue, so it’s a live concern – but the reward is he fulfils Adelaide’s hope he can provide the expanded game that made him a coveted player among EuroLeague clubs. At less than 1 per cent ownership, Kell could prove the ultimate POD.
Gary Browne (SEM) $325,500 GRD – 2.6 per cent
With the Phoenix involved in seven games in the first four rounds, it’s hard to understand why Browne is in only 2.6 per cent of teams. He led the NBL in assists last season and the Phoenix look even more potent this season. Maybe SuperCoaches are concerned about how the Phoenix game script will play out with two ball handlers – Browne and new import Will Cummings – in the back court. If you watched the Blitz, though, Browne was the primary ball-handler when he was on the floor with Cummings, who then took over when Browne was rested for Ben Ayre. Mike Kelly has said as much that this is how they’re expecting to play, so, add in a monster 17-point outburst against Cairns and the 28.1 points per game last season – good enough for 10th overall – and you have a player who could separate you from the pack.
Jordon Crawford (TAS) $277,000 GRD – 2 per cent
A new face in the league and, while he may be small, his game is anything but. Has the keys to the JackJumpers and, with Tassie tipped to dazzle again – and looking far more potent in the Blitz – Crawford might be worth an add with his ability to put up stats in every category (except blocks).
OTHERS TO CONSIDER
Marcus Lee (TAS) $288,700 CTR – 2.9 per cent
Inability to stay on the floor due to foul trouble is a constant worry, but is incredibly productive any time he can avoid the refs’ whistles.
Jordan Usher (PER) $277,000 FWD – 4.3 per cent
Loved the new import’s game in the Blitz, but want to see what he looks like with the Wildcats’ third import inbound and believed to play a similar position.
Jaylin Galloway (SYD) $123,600 FWD – 6.1 per cent
One of the standouts at the Blitz, the path to a starting role is likely and, even with a mountain of talent around him, has the athleticism and defensive ability to carve out a SuperCoach-friendly role in NBL24.
Isaac Humphries (ADE) $251,200 CTR – 6.1 per cent
Humphries and Kell feel like the two potential premiums in Adelaide right now and both are priced below the import starting figure of $277,000 – but have the ability to far exceed that.
Will Cummings (SEM) $277,000 GRD – 1.3 per cent
Foundation SEM player Ben Madgen reckons Cummings is the most underrated import pick-up of the off-season. While the focus at the Blitz was on injury replacement Tyler Cook, Cummings opened the tournament with a 15-point first quarter and could be a sneaky SuperCoach starter.
Jordan Hunter (SYD) $133,500 CTR – 4.5 per cent
Seems big Jordi is going to start and get plenty of minutes in Sydney, and that means 95.5 per cent of SuperCoaches could be about to miss out on a breakout year.
Ian Clark (MEL) $226,300 GRD – 4.4 per cent
Want to see how the line-ups shake out but, if the Delly-Shea starting back court doesn’t happen, then Clark becomes an intriguing prospect. Even if it does, Clark’s worth a thought, given he will most likely close games and play big minutes.
Tyrell Harrison (BRI) $130,500 CTR – 1.1 per cent
A little like Jordi Hunter in that he is a big centre with the ability to score well in SuperCoach. I’m taking Hunter first because he’s not sitting behind Aron Baynes – and just ahead of teen Rocco Zikarsky, like Harrison is in Brisbane.
WATCHLIST: CAIRNS-NZ-ILLAWARA
Cairns and New Zealand have a nightmare schedule for SuperCoach purposes, owing to their trip to the US for NBLx NBA games in the opening month of the season, while Illawarra’s is thin early.
Here are the potential PODs to consider when their schedules open up.
Gary Clark (ILL) $277,000 FWD – 2 per cent
Stunk it up in the Blitz and put SuperCoaches off, but the NBA pedigree is there for league dominance.
Justin Robinson (ILL) $277,000 GRD – 4.7 per cent
Back from a knee injury and figures to play a huge role in the Illawarra.
Zylan Cheatham (NZB) $277,000 FWD – 2 per cent
The athleticism makes you say, in your best Pete Hooley voice, “my goodness”, but the import’s game has so much more substance than just jumping out of the gym
William McDowell-White (NZB) $326,700 GRD – 4.9 per cent
Broken hand plus schedule will hurt his price but, if he’s going well once he’s played two games, don’t think twice.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright (NZB) $277,000 GRD – 1.1 per cent
Third-best SuperCoach average at the Blitz without Will McDowell-White and he’s an early watch until the pair plays together.
Sam Waardenburg (CNS) $228,800 FWD-CTR – 5.4 per cent
Real bang or bust vibe for SuperCoach purposes, could be a cheap stud or potentially lost in the wash of a roster full of players who can handle the ball and score.
Bobi Klintman (CNS) $115,000 FWD – 5.4 per cent
Everyone’s on Bobi watch and, if he goes well in round 1, he will be a popular addition in round 2.
Tahjere McCall (CNS) $371,800 GRD-FWD – 5.5 per cent
I’m not overly high on McCall at the price but he’s capable of elite, consistent SuperCoach scoring if he can stay healthy. His ownership could grow rapidly after round four.
Patrick Miller (CNS) $277,000 GRD – 0.7 per cent
Josh Roberts (CNS) $277,000 FWD – 0.9 per cent
The two Taipans imports are both wait and see but, if they look likely early, pick the best one, if it tickles your fancy.
Bryce blitz, but new men steal show
Bryce Cotton was Bryce Cotton upgraded at the Blitz, dominating across three games with a 37-point SuperCoach average – and in two of those, he exited early.
But the rest of the top-five SuperCoach scorers at the pre-season tournament, where each team played three games, were new faces to NBL24.
Cotton put up 37 points per night – with a two-game slate in round 1, make sure to check the Wildcats’ injury list, but just make sure he’s in your team if he gets a clean bill of health.
SEM’s injury-replacement for Alan Williams, Tyler Cook, was named tournament MVP and finished second in SuperCoach scoring, ahead of NZ’s new import pair Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Zylan Cheatham, while evergreen Aussie guard Matthew Dellavedova rounded out the top five.
NBL BLITZ TOP-20 SUPERCOACH SCORERS
Avg 37 – Bryce Cotton $466,300 (Guard)
36.33 – Tyler Cook $277,000 (Center, NRP)
32.67 – Parker Jackson-Cartwright $277,000 (Guard)
30 – Zylan Cheatham $277,000 (Centre)
29.67 – Matthew Dellavedova $255,300 (Guard)
28 – Luke Travers $276,300 (Guard)
27.67 – Aron Baynes $240,300 (Centre)
27.33 – Lachlan Olbrich $69,000 (Centre/Forward)
27 – Jesse Wagstaff $120,200 (Forward)
26.33 – Bobi Klintman $115,000 (Forward)
26.33 – Jaylin Galloway $123,600 (Forward)
25.67 – Keanu Pinder $385,900 (Forward/Centre)
25.67 – Alex Sarr $115,000 (Forward/Centre)
25.33 – Milton Doyle $344,600 (Guard)
25 – Cam Gliddon $104,000 (Guard)
24.33 – Gary Browne $325,500 (Guard)
24.33 – Jack McVeigh $262,300 (Guard/Forward)
24 – Josh Bannan $69,000 (Forward)
24 – Ariel Hukporti $172,100 (Center)
23.67 – Isaac Humphries $251,200 (Centre)
*See full scores at basketballblokes.com
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