Beat The Coach: Michael Randall’s NBL fantasy squad for round 3

That is usually the question in NBL SuperCoach but the new Beat the Coach format makes it even tougher, given Cotton is the second-most expensive player in the game at $452,500.

Even though he did churn out a monster 51 points on the back of a 39-point debut for Adelaide, the week-to-week nature of Beat The Coach – and the fact that the eight active teams this round are on singles – means spread of talent must be prioritised.

And it’s a good thing there’s a great spread of talent to pick from, and a couple of cheapies who can hopefully do the business for us.

Cotton is front and centre of the expert coach’s starting six this week – our task is to outscore that line-up to go into the prize draw.

But if “to Bryce or not to Bryce” is the question, my answer is “to Bryce” – but the Hamilton variety, rather than Cotton.

Good luck.

Beat The Coach: Play the new weekly SuperCoach NBL game

MICK RANDALL’S ROUND 3 TEAM

CENTRE

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (PER) $280,300 – Captain

Feels like some were guilty of forgetting about Jo after he spent a season away from the NBL but he’s been absolutely dominant in recording 39 and then 43 SuperCoach points in his two games in Wildcats red. Expect more of the same in a massive marquee match-up with fellow monster centre JaVale McGee.

FORWARDS

Zylan Cheatham (ADL) $262,200

I had Cheatham at No.8 in my real-world NBL rankings pre-season and, with Montrezl Harrell no longer in the picture and after a debut where he took where he could get offensively but absolutely stuffed the stat sheet everywhere else, I’m more than comfortable with that ranking and even more comfortable picking him at a slightly cut price on an import starter.

Sam Mennenga (NZL) $189,400

With four players at premium price, had to give a little somewhere and, while I’d love to have Jack McVeigh here, I’ve gone with the dependable Mennenga, who should have a floor of 20, with double-double potential against a small Sydney frontline.

GUARDS

Bryce Hamilton (TAS) $306,100

Three straight 20-plus-point games and Hamilton has emerged as one of the best imports in NBL26’s early going. While he’s got a long way to go to get near his namesake Cotton’s achievements, he’s also $150k cheaper and still averaging nearly 40, with a positive match-up against the Bullets ahead.

Biwali Bayles (ILL) $69,000

Outplayed underperforming import JaQuori McLaughlin against the JackJumpers in the Hawks’ season-opener. With Will Hickey out for a long stretch with an eye injury, the tough-injury replacement might be the cheapie of the year this round, given he’s every chance of eating into McLaughlin’s minutes even more.

SIXTH MAN

JaVale McGee (ILL) $277,000 – Vice Captain

A lazy 61 on debut for the three-time NBA champion as he manhandled the league’s best defensive centre in Will Magnay. Sign me up for more destruction. Anyone who doesn’t pick the big fella is a candidate for Shaqtin’ A Fool.