NBL Dream Team – Round 7

Looking Back (Round 6 Review)

Studs and Duds

Cedric Jackson may have pulled up just short of a triple-double twice last weekend, but his NBL Dream Team coaches can’t complain as New Zealand’s do-it-all guard delivered a rare “double-triple” to those who captained him.

Jackson’s scintillating form over the Sunshine Swing yielded 106 Dream Team points – or 212 if he skippered your side – a mammoth haul made all the more impressive when stacked up against the nightmarish returns of some of the league’s other big names.

The reigning MVP, for example, was held to just 12 Dream Team points, although Perth guard Kevin Lisch wasn’t the worst-offending Wildcat, with forward Shawn Redhage managing only four in the loss to Adelaide.

Like Redhage, Wollongong guard Adris Deleon saw 11 shots rim out last weekend, robbing him of 22 Dream Team points and restricting round five’s player of the week to a total of just two in round six.

And, despite having two opportunities to add to their tallies, Adelaide’s entire starting five failed to fire from a fantasy point of view, with centre Daniel Johnson the only one to record more than 30 points in the double-game round.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom, of course, with NZ centre Will Hudson milking the Breakers’ two games for 70 points, fellow former Gold Coaster Chris Goulding (56 points) finally lightning it up for his new club Melbourne and ever-reliable Tigers import Seth Scott helping himself to 48 points.

Looking Forward (Round 7 Preview)

Pick Me, Pick Me!

Johnny Flynn is a name you’ll have to get used to seeing in the stud section, with the big-talent Tigers recruit still scoring 24 Dream Team points on debut after being docked 32 points for missed shots. Even a marginal improvement in field-goal percentage will see Flynn rocket to the head of the rankings.

That makes the NBA draft pick a logical addition to your Dream Team, then, although you’ve got another week of window shopping up your sleeve before Flynn’s price starts to accelerate upwards. Teammate Chris Goulding, one of the Tigers set to benefit from Flynn’s arrival, has already leapt in value, however, making him a sooner-rather-than-later-type of purchase.

Outside of Melbourne, Perth players make for attractive trade targets with the Wildcats set to play five games in the three rounds from 8-10.

Double-Points Decision

No team will play twice in round seven – the first time that’s happened since round two – creating a captaincy dilemma for Dream Team coaches. Another Capital City Clash puts Sydney guard Corin Henry in the frame after he had 58 points in his first match against Melbourne, but the Tigers are a much-improved team from the one Henry and his lightning-quick hands tormented in round two.

Cairns centre Cam Tragardh also has strong recent form against this week’s opponent, having racked up 54 points against Wollongong last month, while Cedric Jackson and Seth Scott are safe options for those boasting either of those gold-rolled stars in their line-up.