NBL Fantasy: Did last week Unite your team?
This weekly column is produced by Dean Zardo and Steve Chalmers.
Melbourne United was the only squad on the double last week so it was pretty easy as for which colours you had to target in the lead up.
However, just two players topped 70 fantasy points in addition to two key let downs.
Jo Lual Acuil started off proceedings in the negatives with value punters seething, with those who traded the athletic forward for last week alone with their head in their hands. Ending the week with 21 fpoints probably wasn't prime output - he wasn't the worst.
Mitch McCarron replaced Cam Oliver in the 'guy who underperformed when owners needed it most' category. Just the 63 fpoints after being in some superb form prior, he was arguably the disappointment of the doubles (although I'm sure there were some unhappy Shawn Long owners as well).
We stuck the spotlight on Oliver and he firmly responded this week. Will McCarron bounce back as well?
Breaking returnees
Scotty Hopson is back on deck for the Breakers, while Rob Loe is a big chance to head to Cairns to play the Taipans. New Zealand are in a purple patch when it comes to their schedule so this could make or break a season!
https://twitter.com/huw_beynon/status/1201718814792007681
Finn Delany is a cheap option who is hitting his straps after a delayed start to the season, while Brandon Ashley is in his best form for the season.
So who will score the (fantasy) points when everyone is healthy?
If Hopson remains out then Finn Delany will be close to a lock with or without Loe, however we've never seen the pair play together so it's definitely a risk.
At $852k, Delany will still prove a popular option with Hopson in the line-up although playing in a position of depth. Then what to do with Scotty?
The Stars
LaMelo Ball (Illawarra Hawks)
Let the merry-go-round just halt for a week. Ball is the star for the second straight week with another one of his now infamous triple doubles. The Hawks aren't winning games but nobody seems to care which is perfectly fine for fantasy owners if you keep seeing this kind of production!
The Value
Chris Goulding (Melbourne United)
We've already spoken about Finn so we're happy to bypass him from last week. However, while we have spoken about the disappointments of Melbourne, Goulding has arguably been sneaking under the radar a little bit in terms of fantasy value this season! At $1.11m, Goulding notched 69 fpoints last week and looks a nice mid-priced option as a DPP.
Pressure Cooker
Jack McVeigh (Adelaide 36ers)
He was a value add not too long ago. The Sixers are starting to fire but it seems McVeigh has been left behind when it comes to output and rotation. A combined 23 over his last four games,
Injury List
Illawarra Aaron BrooksAchilles - SeasonMelbourneAlex PledgerAnkle - 5 to 6 weeksShea IliCalf - TestNew ZealandCorey WebsterAnkle - Test Scotty HopsonKnee -. Test Glenn Rice Jr.Stupidity - SuspendedRob LoeSkull - TestPerthWani Swaka Lo Buluk Ankle - 5 to 6 weeksSouth East MelbourneTai WesleyHamstring - TestSydneyKevin LischTestXavier CooksKnee - OUT
The Tweets
We see you! Anything that catches our eye, we'll attempt to share with all of our readers.
https://twitter.com/BBall_Blokes/status/1201076984618438657
https://twitter.com/_Bash21/status/1200706825684865024
https://twitter.com/MitchMcCarron/status/1201030273736966145
The Summary
So, you've come here for a reason haven't you? Who do you bring in for the next round? Let's make it simple, below are a few names (at different levels) who you can target:
Doubles in Round 10: BRIS, CNS, NZ, PER, SYD
PG: Scott Machado (Cairns) $1.71m
PG: Casper Ware (Sydney) $1.37m
SF/PF: Jae'Sean Tate (Sydney) $1.34m
PF: Finn Delany (New Zealand) $852k
For those you should be keen to oppose
Think this could be a week where you start to look at cashing out on your cash cows from the first half of the year. The guys are starting to hit their ceiling and you don't want to hold on to them for too long now. Will Magnay as an example, might be on his last legs. You can also say see you later to Melbourne players as that's where you'll get some bank back.
Questions
Over the course of the week, we'll do our best to answer a number of questions on here each week. Throw up your question using #NBLFantasy or by tweeting one of us @cp_chalmers and @dean_zardo.
https://twitter.com/Watto_PJ/status/1201785308599087105
Melbourne have two doubles in the next eight weeks and you'll need to use the cash elsewhere. You're probably better off without him.